Man Planned To Kill Congregation At Church In Haymarket: Police

HAYMARKET, VA — Investigators believe a Falls Church man planned an attack on a Haymarket church with the intent to kill multiple members of the congregation before he was arrested in September.

The suspect was arrested at the Park Valley Church on Sept. 24 while carrying a loaded handgun with an additional magazine and two knives. No injuries were reported.

Authorities identified the suspect as 35-year-old Rui Jiang. On Sunday, he was charged with attempted aggravated murder of multiple persons. He was previously charged with threats of bodily harm and carrying a dangerous weapon to a place of religious worship.

Jiang is being held without bond at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center.

A Laurel, Maryland, resident had contacted their local police department after they saw Jiang post vague threats of violence on Instagram in September, authorities said. Jiang's social media posts included photos of the Park Valley Church in Haymarket.

Fairfax County police officers went to Jiang's home on Sept. 24, but they could not find him.

Authorities then decided to search for Jiang at the Park Valley Church. Meanwhile, an off-duty Prince William County police officer was working a security detail at the church, the police department said. The officer found Jiang's vehicle in the church's parking lot.

The police officer found Jiang near the church's entrance and detained him, the police report said.

Authorities said Jiang came into the church through a different entrance and had already been inside before the police officer stopped him. Jiang had a loaded handgun, a spare magazine, and two folding knives with him, according to the police department.

Jiang had a concealed carry permit and his handgun had not been reported stolen, investigators said.

Investigators searched Jiang's home after his arrest. They did not find any additional firearms, but authorities seized "related documents and electronic items," according to the police report.

"Based upon the recent analysis of the digital evidence, physical evidence collected at the time, and the social media postings on accounts used by the accused depicting the church with threatening language, indications were the accused intended to cause harm, injury, and death to the church congregation," the Prince William County Police Department said in a news release on Monday.