The early morning calm outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., was shattered on October 5, 2025, when police arrested a New Jersey man, Louis Geri, who was found with a large cache of explosives and incendiary devices just before the annual Red Mass—a tradition that typically draws Supreme Court justices and lawmakers to mark the start of the nation’s highest court’s term. According to reports from NBC Washington, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Courier-Post, Geri’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the city’s religious and legal communities, raising urgent questions about security and the motivations behind his actions.
Geri, 41, of Vineland, New Jersey, was discovered setting up a tent on the cathedral steps around 6 a.m., hours before the Mass was set to begin. Police say the tent was filled with more than 200 handmade destructive devices, ranging from vials of yellow liquid attached to powerful fireworks—known as M-devices—to what investigators described as grenades and explosives containing nitromethane, a highly volatile substance. The tent also contained a Molotov cocktail and possible fireworks, according to the Metropolitan Police Department’s news release and court documents cited by the Courier-Post and NBC Washington.
When officers approached and ordered him to leave, Geri refused, despite having been previously barred from cathedral property after a similar incident on September 26, 2025. Instead, he issued a chilling warning: “You might want to stay back and call the federales, I have explosives/bombs,” police quoted him as saying. During the standoff, Geri held a butane lighter and a cap-shaped object, repeatedly threatening officers and bystanders. At one point, he declared, “Several of your people are gonna die from one of these (explosives),” according to police reports obtained by the Courier-Post and D.C. Newsroom.
Police and bomb squad teams conducted a meticulous search, recovering what they described as a “large cache of handmade destructive devices” from Geri’s tent. Some of these devices emitted a strong smell of acetone, while others appeared to contain nitromethane—evidence suggesting not only intent but also technical knowledge in the construction of explosives. The devices “appeared to be fully functional,” according to a supplemental report filed with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Accompanying the explosives, officers found a series of handwritten documents titled “Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives.” These papers, which Geri confirmed were his, revealed what police described as “significant animosity” toward the Roman Catholic Church, Jewish people, members of the U.S. Supreme Court, and federal immigration officials, particularly agents and facilities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to the Courier-Post, Geri’s writings left little doubt about the ideological motivations behind his actions.
As police attempted to negotiate, Geri threatened to detonate an explosive, saying he would “test one out” by throwing it into the street or at a tree. He also claimed to have “a hundred plus” explosive devices, escalating the sense of imminent danger. Officers eventually subdued and arrested him as he walked toward several trees near the cathedral, recovering a vial and a butane lighter from his pockets.
The charges against Geri are extensive and severe. He faces accusations of unlawful entry; manufacture, transfer, use, possession, or transportation of Molotov cocktails or other explosives for unlawful purposes; threats to kidnap or injure a person; assault on a police officer; possession of destructive devices; manufacture or possession of a weapon of mass destruction (as a hate crime); and resisting arrest. As reported by NBC Washington, a D.C. Superior Court judge has ordered Geri held without bond pending a hearing scheduled for October 9, 2025.
The annual Red Mass is a high-profile event, celebrated for 73 years, that draws members of the legal, judicial, and diplomatic communities. While Supreme Court justices usually attend, a spokesperson confirmed to NBC Washington that no justices were present at this year’s Mass. The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., also stated it was not aware of any justices attending the 2025 service.
Geri’s arrest in Washington is only the latest chapter in a troubled history. According to court records and reporting from the Arizona Republic, he was previously convicted of indecent exposure in Scottsdale, Arizona, in September 2021, after exposing himself in a doughnut shop in front of a woman and her four-year-old daughter. Geri represented himself at trial, arguing that his actions were an exercise of a “perceived freedom of attire” and that Arizona had no law against public nudity. The Arizona Court of Appeals rejected his arguments and upheld his convictions in June 2022. He was sentenced to three years of probation, but after violating the terms in August 2022, he served several months in Arizona’s prison system before being released in May 2023.
Public records indicate Geri had lived in both Highland, New Jersey, and Mesa, Arizona, at various points, sometimes listing addresses at budget motels. His background, marked by a history of confrontations with law enforcement and legal authorities, paints a picture of a man whose actions have repeatedly brought him into conflict with the law.
Following his arrest in Washington, Geri is being represented by an attorney from the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. As of press time, neither the attorney nor the office had responded to requests for comment regarding the charges, which, as multiple outlets have emphasized, remain allegations. Geri has not been convicted in the D.C. case, and the legal process is ongoing.
The incident has put a spotlight on the security measures surrounding major religious and civic events in the nation’s capital. The fact that Geri was able to return to the cathedral after being previously barred, and to assemble a tent containing hundreds of explosive devices, has raised concerns among both law enforcement and community members. The writings found in his possession, expressing hatred toward multiple faith groups and branches of government, underscore the complex motivations that can drive individuals to target such gatherings.
While the Red Mass proceeded without incident, and no injuries were reported, the events of October 5 serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threats facing public institutions and faith communities. The investigation into Geri’s actions continues, as does the broader conversation about safeguarding spaces that hold deep significance for both religious and civic life in America.
As the legal proceedings move forward, many in Washington and beyond will be watching closely—not just for the outcome of Geri’s case, but for what it reveals about the intersection of ideological extremism, security, and public safety in an era of heightened tensions and unpredictable threats.
