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Bailey's Crossroads resident Rui Jiang, 35, is facing charges after a joint investigation into alleged threats at the Park Valley Church in Haymarket on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Police say that between 3:20 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, Jiang was at the church and made several disconcerting posts on social media before heading back to his home.
Shortly after 7:40 a.m., members of the community spotted his messages and reported them to the Anne Arundel County Police Department, who then flagged police in Fairfax County who checked on Jiang, though he was not home at the time.
The messages included "vague threats of violence" that included images of the Park Valley Church. Jiang's vehicle was then tracked to the church in Prince William County.
According to officials, at 10:12 a.m., Jiang arrived at the church though services had already started, investigators said.
An off-duty Prince William County Police officer working an assignment at the church located the vehicle as staff at the church were monitoring a suspicious person - later identified as Jiang - who was ultimately detained near the entrance of the building without incident shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
He had reportedly entered through a separate door, but was located and stopped before any incident could occur.
When he was arrested, police say that Jiang was in possession of a loaded handgun, an additional magazine, folding knife, and a "folding credit card" style knife.
Officials made note that Jiang had a concealed weapon permit and the weapon was not reported stolen.
Before noon, a search warrant was executed at Jiang's home in Virginia, where additional evidence was recovered, according to officials.
Jiang was charged with threats of bodily harm and carrying a dangerous weapon in a place of religious worship. He is being held without bond and his next court date is pending.
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