A federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, has convicted Rui Jiang of Falls Church on charges related to an attempted church shooting. The trial concluded with a guilty verdict after four days of proceedings. Jiang was found guilty of attempting to obstruct the congregants of a Haymarket church from practicing their religious beliefs, with the charge involving a dangerous weapon and an attempt to kill. He also faced charges for transmitting online threats and violating firearms regulations.
The evidence presented during the trial revealed that Jiang began posting threatening messages online against the church on September 23, 2023, expressing his intention to harm its members. Police initiated a search for Jiang following a tip-off from a concerned citizen regarding his posts. On September 24, 2023, police officers located him at the church's entrance during Sunday services. Church volunteers had already approached him due to concerns about his behavior when law enforcement arrived. Jiang was armed with a semiautomatic handgun and two full magazines of ammunition; additional rounds were found in his vehicle.
A subsequent search of Jiang's apartment uncovered five copies of a letter signed by him, which included an apology for his planned actions: “To the families of those men about to be slain – I am sorry for what I have done and about to do (sic).” Jiang was arrested by Prince William County Police on September 24, 2023, and has remained in custody since then.
Jiang faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment when sentenced on June 18. Sentences for federal crimes often fall short of maximum penalties; however, the final decision will be made by a federal district court judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors.
The announcement came from Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mac Warner, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Roman Rozhavsky, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.'s acceptance of the verdict.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with significant assistance from Prince William County and Fairfax County Police Departments as well as support from Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas A. Durham and Troy A. Edwards Jr., along with Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton from the Civil Division’s Criminal Section are handling prosecution duties.
Further information can be accessed via websites belonging to both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern District Virginia or through PACER under Case No. 1:24-cr-65.
