A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempting a mass shooting at a church in Virginia.
36-year-old Rui Jiang was found guilty of intent to carry out a mass shooting, carrying a gun and for transmitting threats over the internet to Park Valley Church in Haymarket.
In preparation for his attack back in 2023, Jiang wrote on Instagram: “I’m not going out until I kill somebody" and “I am here to target men and to deny men the life God actually denies me every day.”
He also posted a picture of himself pointing a gun at a screen showing a picture of a church and a burning bible.
Police responded to a tip and found Jiang at the church while services were underway. He was found to be carrying a semiautomatic handgun, two ammunition magazines, and two knives. Additional weapons and bear spray were discovered in his car. A search of his home uncovered a signed manifesto detailing his deadly intentions.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said it was the "closest of calls".
She praised law enforcement, church security, and a vigilant citizen for preventing a tragedy, adding:
“The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue threats against houses of worship.”
US Attorney Erik S. Siebert emphasised the sanctity of worship, calling Jiang’s plan an “unspeakable act” that violated core national values.
Assistant Director Steven J. Jensen of the FBI echoed this, highlighting the importance of community and law enforcement cooperation in stopping targeted violence.