this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2023
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Investigators said they were able to stop the potential massacre at Park Valley Church in Haymarket thanks to someone who saw troubling posts on Instagram and called police

Authorities arrested a man who they say was minutes away from carrying out a mass shooting at a church in Northern Virginia on Sunday morning.

Rui Jiang, 35, was taken into custody with a loaded gun and extra ammo at Park Valley Church in Haymarket. Authorities said he was on a mission to kill.

“This was a thwarted diabolical plot to kill churchgoers in Haymarket, Virginia … and local law enforcement stopped it,” Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department said.

“Minutes. Minutes. The congregation was making their way into the church. He was in the vestibule of the church about to enter,” Davis said. “So, minutes or seconds away.”

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[–] Transcendant@lemmy.world 301 points 11 months ago (14 children)

“Quite frankly, we've just been thanking God. You know, God’s been so good to us, and he protected us,

Never fails to amaze me how someone can completely disregard the hard work and sacrifice of other human beings and instead praise an imaginary skyguy.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 86 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Same imaginary skygod who put them in harms way to begin with. Never did understand.

[–] tburkhol@lemmy.world 26 points 11 months ago (3 children)

No, no: that's the other skyguy. We're like the kids in a bitter divorce, constantly bounced between a good parent and a bad parent, with no actual agency. Except to thank good skyguy, otherwise they might not protect us from bad skyguy next time.

Skyguy whims sometimes feel arbitrary and capricious, but there's divine or diabolical intent, which means it's way better than being lost to the randomness of chaotic but determinate natural forces. How terrifying would the world be if stuff just happened for no reason?

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[–] bobman@unilem.org 40 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Weird how they never thank god for the successful attacks.

[–] loutr@sh.itjust.works 23 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Exactly, if God prevented this attack, it means he wanted the successful ones to take place. He really works in mysterious ways...

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[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago

They didn't pray hard enough.

[–] Cold_Brew_Enema@lemmy.world 32 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yep I can't stand this. What about the little girl who dies of cancer? God didn't feel like protecting her?

Fuck off

[–] Saneless@lemmy.world 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well, if he's consistent with his behavior in the Bible, it's not that he failed to protect her. He killed her himself

[–] Delusional@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

And if all those people were shot up, you can be damn sure they wouldn't be saying it's thanks to God. Mass of idiots.

[–] AstridWipenaugh@lemmy.world 32 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Man, I know a woman who got COVID bad and got a double lung transplant. Not a word about any of her doctors or other care staff that kept her alive while on a ventilator for 6 month. Not even a mention once. But it was constant "look at the power of prayer" and "thank the good lord for my recovery" and shit like that.

[–] CaptFeather@lemm.ee 16 points 11 months ago

Which is hilarious considering how many "good Christians" died for refusing the vaccine. Confirmation bias in action!

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[–] Tedesche@lemmy.world 30 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

It's a mistake to dismiss religious people as stupid, but they really make it hard not to sometimes.

[–] Piecemakers3Dprints@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

That's an odd way to spell "natural reflex", but it's close.

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[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 24 points 11 months ago (2 children)

God, when he fails to prevent all the other mass shootings that happened in places of worship:

"Lol that was part of my plan, too."

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

"That's not a plan! You're just a jerk!" -Jerry

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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

"Why does God's plan involve so many priests molesting alter boys?"

[–] vivadanang@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

And needing 10% of my money?

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[–] Nougat@kbin.social 17 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Cops should have just said, "Oh, it's at a church? God's got it handled," and went back to speed traps.

[–] ComradeChairmanKGB@lemmygrad.ml 17 points 11 months ago (2 children)

They let students handle it at schools

[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Protect and serve*.

*Some terms and conditions apply.

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I mean, it is a church. I think it's stupid, but it's not like it's a car dealership. What do you think they're going to say?

[–] nulluser@programming.dev 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Repoter: So, the police arrested a gunman moments away from shooting up your dealership. What are your thoughts?

Dealer: It was wild. Absolutely crazy.... Almost as crazy as ThEse CraZy deAls We'vE GoT RigHt nOW. JUst cHeCk Out ThE PriCe oN ThiS '88 MaliBu. It'S CrAaaaZy!

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[–] theyoyomaster@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

In his actual statement he thanked the police and everyone involved. NBC Washington felt that only the snippet thanking God was worth reporting.

[–] Transcendant@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Thanks for clarifying

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[–] Phanatik@kbin.social 27 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Clearly, Fairfax County Police are doing something the other counties/states should be taking notes on.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 34 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Getting random tips from concerned citizens with details.

[–] Actaeon@artemis.camp 48 points 11 months ago (1 children)

And then responding to those tips in an appropriate and timely manner.

[–] Phanatik@kbin.social 18 points 11 months ago

The audacity!

[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 15 points 11 months ago

Just doing the job?

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[–] BigMacHole@lemm.ee 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Arresting someone before they've had the chance to kill people is AGAINST the Second Amendment! The ONLY time you're allowed to intervene is AFTER they've killed an adult in public or child in school!

[–] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago

Honest what is that? Attempted murder. Do they give the Nobel Prize for Attempted Chemistry?

[–] RadialMonster@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

How does one find random posts on Instagram near them? I only see the people i follow and some ad type posts. Was she following this guy?

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