Minutes Matter: Police Departments Working Together to Stop Potential Active Shooter

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Fairfax, VA – The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACoPD) and Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) acted swiftly to a tip from a community member about a man threatening harm to a Haymarket church and, together, were able to stop a potential active shooter.

In the early morning on Sunday, Rui Jiang, 35, of Bailey’s Crossroads, posted several threatening messages on his Instagram account. Several of the messages showed an image of Jiang pointing a firearm at pictures of churches.

At 7:40 a.m. a community member saw the concerning posts and notified AAPCoD. AACoPD officers determined Jiang resides in Fairfax County and immediately requested a welfare check of his residence.

At 9:22 a.m., FCPD received the welfare check. Mason Patrol officers responded to his home in the 5600 block of Seminary Road. They determined Jiang was not home. Based on the messages shared on Instagram, officers believed Jiang was at the Park Valley Church in Haymarket. 

At 10 a.m. officers requested PWCPD officers to immediately respond to the Park Valley Church area to search for Jiang. Recognizing the severity of the situation, an FCPD Lieutenant contacted PWCPD directly to relay the information.

At 10:12 am Jiang had arrived at the church and was taken into custody shortly after by Prince William County police.

Photo courtesy of Prince William County Police Department

Since the arrest, detectives from our Threat Assessment Management Unit have been assigned to assist with the investigation.

TAM detectives assisted with the execution of a search warrant at Jiang’s home. Evidence supporting Jiang’s intent to cause harm was recovered from the scene. Detectives will work with our multidisciplinary team to determine the appropriate resources for threat mitigation and management of the case.

The goal of our TAM unit is to interdict and deter subjects on the pathway to targeted violence and provide appropriate resources to the subject. The TAM Unit will conduct assessments based on an appraisal of observed (or reasonably observable) behaviors to identify potentially dangerous or violent situations, investigate/assess them, and ultimately mitigate them. The overall goal will be to ensure the safety of all involved while respecting individual privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

If you see suspicious social media postings or concerning behavior, please report the matter to your local police department.

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