On Sunday, a 41-year-old man was arrested outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., for allegedly possessing a Molotov cocktail ahead of its annual Red Mass, police said.
The man, identified as Louis Geri of Vineland, New Jersey, was occupying a tent on the steps of the cathedral ahead of the annual event, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The Red Mass is a Catholic Mass, typically held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, that celebrates the beginning of the Supreme Court’s annual term. According to the cathedral’s website, the event is intended “to invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials.”
Geri was discovered in his tent early on Sunday morning by officers assigned to a detail for the Red Mass.
“Shortly before 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) members assigned to a detail for the Red Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral engaged an individual who set up a tent on the steps of the Cathedral. Officers determined that the individual was previously barred from the premises of the Cathedral. The individual refused to vacate the premises and was placed under arrest without incident,” the MPD said in a statement.
During the arrest, officers found numerous suspicious items inside the suspect’s tent, including vials of liquid and possible fireworks. The MPD’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force assisted in examining the suspect’s belongings that were left behind following Geri’s arrest.
According to the MPD, the scene was secured, and there was no threat to the public.
“While there is no known threat to the District of Columbia, MPD continues to encourage the public to remain vigilant,” the MPD said.
The suspect faces charges of unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person, and possession of a Molotov cocktail.