Posted on 09/29/2023 6:32:46 AM PDT by Perseverando
HAYMARKET, Va. (7News) — A Falls Church man who made alleged threats of violence online was arrested on Sunday after he was found heavily armed at a church in Haymarket, police said.
Investigators said that 35-year-old Rui Jiang made suspicious and concerning posts on Instagram regarding Park Valley Church in Haymarket. A Maryland resident who came across the posts reported them to police in Anne Arundel County, officials said.
After learning that Jiang is a Falls Church resident, Anne Arundel police notified the Fairfax County Police Department of the concerns.
Fairfax County police responded to Jiang's home but quickly discovered he was not there at the time. However, police were able to obtain information about Jiang's car which was tracked to the church in Haymarket.
Officials said an off-duty, uniformed Prince William County police officer working an assignment at Park Valley Church located the car at the building. At the same time, church staff were monitoring a suspicious person, later identified as Jiang.
Jiang was finally detained and police learned that he entered the building through a separate door. He was allegedly armed with a loaded handgun along with an additional magazine, a folding knife, and a folding “credit card” style knife, police said.
Thankfully, no one was injured during the incident.
Jiang was charged with threats of bodily harm and carrying a dangerous weapon in a place of religious worship. He is currently being held without bond.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to contact Prince William County police at 703-792-7000.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis spoke to the media on Monday regarding Sunday's incident.
7News reached out to Park Valley Church and received the following statement:
"First, we would like to thank the huge efforts of Anne Arundel County Police,
(Excerpt) Read more at wjla.com ...
You might want to pass this story on to your pastor/priest and church security team.
Rui Jiang. Another one of our “strengths” finds his ass in trouble.
Kudos to the citizen and the cops for preventing Biden’s ‘gift’ from giving pain and grief to innocent Americans.
Even with a probable good bust they have to use the loaded language in the story. “Heavily armed” is not consistent with the description of what this guy was carrying contained in the story. Had a pistol and a spare mag along with a knife and a “credit card knife.”
A few years back in rural Virginia this would have been termed an armed man or a man with a pistol.
A pistol and a pair of pocket knives is “heavily armed”?
Also, from the Prince William Police Department's Daily Incident Report of September 25:
"The accused was determined to have a concealed weapon permit, and the firearm was not reported stolen. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Rui JIANG, was arrested. Additionally, an Emergency Substantial Risk Order (ESRO) and a search warrant for the residence in Falls Church were obtained. Related documents and electronic items were seized, no additional firearms were located.
Arrested on September 24:
Rui JIANG, 35, of 5601 Seminary Rd, #318, in Falls Church
Charged with threats of bodily harm and carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship
Court Date: Pending | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond
Crikey, Thats less than what I carry all the time. Pistol, 2 mags, folding knife, fixed blade, gerber box knife/pry bar, and my tool wallet with credit card knife and 2 of the Leatherman micras-scissors and electrician. If I feel sporty I’ll stick the NAA .22 short in my watch pocket. I wouldn’t say I’m heavily armed.
A domestic terrorist!!
You would think at least an M249 saw or a crew served weapon to be “heavily armed”.
Presumably his arsenal of an Old Timer and a credit card folding knife pushed it into the “heavily armed” category.
So, he was surveying the Church to plan his attack?
The church security people stopped it, held until police came.
If he had not had a weapon on him, he might have succeeded later when the church was full.
Good lesson for other churches. Welcome newcomers, but beware of possibility like this.
I thought the same thing. That doesn’t seem heavily armed. Oh yeah… he had a spare mag. So there is that….
.....”35-year-old Rui Jiang....” well, I doubt we’ll be seeing anything about this situation on the evening TeeVee news [sic]....down the memory hole soon, I’ll wager... doesn’t fit their narrative of an angry, right-wing, conservative, gun-loving, flag-waving, constitution-respecting heterosexual white male....
bump post #4
Haymarket is not rural anymore. Glad that guy was caught before he did something terrible.
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