Incident OverviewOn October 5, 2025, a 41-year-old man from Vineland, New Jersey, named Louis Geri was arrested outside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., hours before the annual Red Mass—a traditional Catholic service invoking blessings for the judiciary, typically attended by U.S. Supreme Court justices, judges, attorneys, and officials to mark the start of the court's term. Geri had set up a green tent on the cathedral's steps around 6 a.m., despite being previously barred from the property. He refused to leave when approached by D.C. Metropolitan Police officers securing the area for the event, warning them, "You might want to stay back and call the federales, I have explosives," and later threatening, "...you better have these people step away or there's going to be deaths."
cnn.com +5
Police discovered a cache of over 200 working homemade explosive devices inside the tent, including Molotov cocktails, bottle rockets, handmade grenades (some with rubber-band fuses), vials of nitromethane (a fuel used in explosives, notably the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing), and possible fireworks. Additional incendiary items were found in his front pocket and backpack. Geri, who claimed a background in explosives, handed officers a nine-page notebook titled "Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives" through a tent flap. The document expressed "significant animosity" toward the Catholic Church, Supreme Court justices, Jewish people, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, indicating a potential intent to target attendees at the mass.
wjla.com +4
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, Arson Task Force, FBI, ATF, and Joint Terrorism Task Force responded, securing the area (closing Rhode Island Avenue NW) and safely removing the materials for FBI analysis. No injuries occurred, and the public was not at risk. Geri was charged with unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person, possession of a Molotov cocktail/destructive device, and making a false report of a weapon of mass destruction. He was denied bond and remains in custody as of October 8, 2025; hate crime enhancements are under consideration due to the notebook's content.
cnn.com +5
Connection to the Red Mass and Supreme Court JusticesThe Red Mass, held since 1953 by the Archdiocese of Washington and the John Carroll Society, is a 73rd annual event at St. Matthew's specifically for praying for "guidance and wisdom in the administration of justice." It occurs the Sunday before the Supreme Court's term opens (October 6, 2025). Historically, multiple justices attend, including Chief Justice John Roberts and associates like Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson (six of whom are Catholic, two Jewish).
cnn.com +4
Regarding justices' attendance last year (2024 Red Mass): Reports indicate three justices participated—specifically, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett. This aligns with patterns where a mix of conservative and liberal justices join, though exact numbers vary annually due to security and scheduling. For 2025, no justices attended amid the unfolding incident, as confirmed by the Supreme Court spokesperson and the Catholic Standard (Archdiocese newspaper).
cnn.com +3
(Note: While your query mentions a "service to pray for justices" hosted by the man, sources describe Geri's tent setup as a protest/threat site with anti-justice writings, not an organized prayer service; he may have framed it that way in negotiations, but it was interpreted as a detonation demand.)Background on Geri and MotiveLittle public info exists on Geri's personal history beyond his Vineland, NJ, residence and self-reported explosives expertise. No prior arrests or affiliations (e.g., extremism groups) are detailed in reports, but the notebook's content suggests a lone-actor grudge, possibly tied to broader institutional distrust (echoing Cardinal Robert McElroy's homily on eroding faith in institutions).
cnn.com +3
The incident follows heightened threats against justices (e.g., the 2022 Kavanaugh assassination attempt sentencing days prior) and protests at the cathedral.This appears to be a foiled mass-casualty plot, with the mass's attendees (hundreds, including legal figures) as likely targets. The investigation is ongoing; check D.C. Superior Court or MPD updates for developments.
Comments
Post a Comment