Federal prosecutors have taken over the case against a Northern Virginia man who was arrested last year on suspicion of attempting to carry out a mass shooting at a megachurch.
The Prince William County district attorney’s office on Tuesday dropped charges against Louis Jean, 35, of Falls Church, including attempted aggravated murder of multiple people. This clears the way for Mr. Jiang to be indicted in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, where he was recently charged with interstate extortion.
Venezuelan illegal immigrant charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in Virginia
If you are convicted of a federal crime, your prison sentence is often longer than if you are convicted of a state crime, but this is not always the case.
Jiang was arrested on September 24 at Park Valley Church in Haymarket, where police officers discovered Jiang had entered the church during a Sunday service with a handgun and a knife. Police were acting on a tip received several hours earlier, and agencies credited the quick cooperation of multiple police departments with helping to prevent a potential tragedy.
A 33-page affidavit filed in federal court last week contains new details about the investigation that moved quickly that day.
According to the affidavit, the first tip came from a woman who met Jiang on a dating app in early 2023. The woman had lost contact with Jiang several months ago, but she found the reports of vague threats against the church that “there would be blood on her hands” and a photo of a burning Bible, which she found disturbing. I saw a social media post about it.
Last year, a Northern Virginia man was arrested on suspicion of carrying out a mass shooting at a megachurch. Federal prosecutors took over the case.
According to the affidavit, police in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, interviewed the woman on the morning of the 24th and immediately contacted Fairfax County police, who checked on Jiang at her home.
When officers could not find him, they contacted Prince William County police. According to his affidavit, an off-duty police officer who was directing traffic at the church received the call. By then, church security guards had spotted Jiang and were concerned about his behavior, which appeared to be “guarding the church,” such as banging on the glass, according to the affidavit.
Church security guards were escorting Jiang from the building just as the police approached the front of the church. Officers questioned Jiang, disarmed him, and took him into custody before he was formally arrested.
Jiang has been a member of the church since April and donated more than $450 to the church as part of his tithe in June, according to the affidavit. Two days before his arrest, he sent an email to the church asking for a refund, saying his life had deteriorated since making the donation. The church returned the money to Jiang the next day, according to his affidavit.
Police raided Jiang’s home, claiming he had been a government assassin for more than a decade and copying a one-page note that read, “To the families of those about to be killed, we apologize.” I discovered several. For what I’ve done and what I’m about to do. ”
He also said he had never intended to harm the woman and apologized in advance for any “collateral damage” caused to the woman. He said he “couldn’t experience a romantic relationship.”
When interviewed by police, Jiang said he was angry at God, but denied intending to kill anyone. He acknowledged being armed inside the church, but said he has a concealed carry permit and is frequently armed.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Tracy Lennox, the public defender appointed to represent Jiang Zemin in Prince William County, said after Tuesday’s hearing that she was disappointed that the case had been designated for federal prosecution, and that she hoped it could be resolved in state court. He said it was good. Although she declined to comment in detail about the evidence or Mr. Jiang’s mental state, she said she believed Mr. Jiang had a “sufficient defense” to the charges.
