Man Arrested Outside Washington, D.C. Catholic Church with Molotov Cocktail

A man from New Jersey was detained after authorities found him carrying a Molotov cocktail near a prominent Catholic church in Washington, D.C., during a special mass to mark the start of the Supreme Court session.

Louis Geri, 41, of Vineland, New Jersey, was taken into custody on the steps of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle shortly before 6 a.m. on Sunday. He had set up a tent containing several suspicious items, including vials of liquid and what appeared to be fireworks, and refused to leave the area. Despite being banned from the church grounds previously, police discovered his presence upon arrival.

Following the discovery of multiple concerning items, the Metropolitan Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal team and Arson Task Force examined his belongings. Geri was subsequently charged with unlawful entry, making threats to harm or kidnap, and possession of a Molotov cocktail.

The church was hosting its annual Red Mass, a tradition that seeks divine blessing for those involved in administering justice and for public officials, coinciding with the beginning of the Supreme Court’s term.

Authorities secured the scene, and the church’s front entrance was closed off while investigations continued. The motive behind Geri’s actions remains unknown.

The incident is being closely examined by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This event follows a recent violent attack in Michigan, where a gunman rammed his vehicle into a Mormon church, fired upon congregants, set the building aflame, and killed four people.