A man carrying hundreds of explosive devices, chemicals, and a written manifesto was arrested Sunday outside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., shortly before the annual Red Mass — a long-standing Catholic service held for Supreme Court justices ahead of their new term, as reported [1] by The Gateway Pundit.
Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Louis Geri, who has ties to both Arizona and New Jersey. According to an affidavit, Geri was found inside a tent outside the cathedral containing roughly 200 explosive devices, canisters of chemicals, and modified fireworks.
⚠️ BREAKING: Authorities arrested Louis Geri outside Washington, D.C.’s Cathedral of St. Matthew during the “Red Mass” — a ceremony historically attended by Supreme Court justices.
After uncovering 200+ explosive devices and a manifesto calling for attacks on SCOTUS, Catholics,… pic.twitter.com/h7lr3Q3qQ1 [2]
— Timcast News (@TimcastNews) October 8, 2025 [3]
Authorities described the cache as including containers filled with nitro methane, grenades, and other homemade explosives.
When approached by officers, Geri warned them to back away, saying, “You might want to stay back and call the federales, I have explosives.”
He then acknowledged he was aware of the ongoing Red Mass and threatened to detonate one of the devices, reportedly saying, “I’m aware of that,” and “I have a hundred plus of them.”
Police ordered Geri to move from the area, but he refused and continued making threats, telling them, “Several of your people are gonna die from one of these.”
Officers reported that he held a lighter in one hand as he handed them nine pages of a document titled, “Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives.”
The threat prompted security officials to take additional precautions, and multiple Supreme Court justices who were expected to attend the service ultimately skipped the event.
Bomb squad detectives searched Geri’s tent and discovered several containers of chemicals, fuses, and improvised explosive devices.
According to court filings, some of the items appeared to be bottle rockets that had been modified with aluminum foil heads treated in thermite solution — a highly flammable compound that burns at extreme temperatures.
Police described Geri’s setup as a potentially catastrophic hazard, noting that he had used rubber bands to secure fuses to some of the devices. Investigators are analyzing the contents of his tent for additional evidence, including electronic devices and the manifesto.
According to court documents obtained by The Daily Wire, Geri’s writings suggested a possible ideological motivation targeting the Supreme Court and members of the Catholic Church.
The annual Red Mass, celebrated at St. Matthew’s Cathedral since 1953, is traditionally attended by members of the Supreme Court, Cabinet officials, and other dignitaries. The service is intended to invoke guidance for justices and public officials as the Court begins a new term.
Geri was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police Department and faces multiple federal and local charges related to possession of explosive materials, making threats, and attempting to intimidate public officials.
BREAKING: Suspect Louis Geri allegedly had 200 explosive devices in a green tent outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC, on Sunday, where Supreme Court Justices were scheduled to attend the annual Red Mass. pic.twitter.com/Gug6AKVNGM [4]
— MAGA Kitty (@SaveUSAKitty) October 8, 2025 [5]
Authorities said no injuries occurred during the incident, and the explosives were safely removed from the scene.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, are assisting the Metropolitan Police with the ongoing investigation into the incident and the motive behind Geri’s actions.