New Jersey Man Arrested with Molotov Cocktail Outside DC Cathedral Before Supreme Court Mass

Louis Geri, a 41-year-old man from Vineland, New Jersey, was arrested outside St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., for possessing explosives, including a Molotov cocktail, ahead of the annual Red Mass that marks the start of the Supreme Court's term. Geri had set up a tent on the cathedral steps and refused to leave despite being previously banned from the property. Authorities discovered vials of liquid and potential fireworks in his possession, prompting a response from the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force. The cathedral was secured and its front entrance closed during the investigation, which involved the Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI Washington Field Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Red Mass is a traditional event intended to invoke blessings on the Supreme Court justices and public officials responsible for administering justice, although no justices attended the service this year. This incident follows recent violent attacks on places of worship, underscoring concerns about security at religious and judicial events.