A 41 -year -old man was arrested on Sunday on the outskirts of the San Mateo Cathedral, the apostle in Washington, DC, for charges of having a Molotov cocktail and threats to kidnap or hurt people, according to the police.
The incident occurs a week after a man rammed his truck in the front of a church of Jesus Christ of the last days in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and opened fire with an assault rifle, killing four worshipers and hurting another eight. The suspect was killed in a shooting with the police after burning the chapel, burning it on the ground, authorities said.
A man arrested, on October 5, 2025, outside the San Mateo Cathedral, the apostle in Washington, DC (in the photo here), was supposedly in possession of cocktails and vials of Molotov of an unknown liquid, police said.
James Law/Corbis through Getty Images
Police officers were already on stage providing security for a special mass on Sunday when they met the suspect around 6 in the morning, launching a tent at the main entrance of the cathedral, according to a police statement.
“The officers determined that the individual was previously prohibited from the facilities of the Cathedral. The individual refused to vacate the facilities and was put under arrest without incident,” according to the statement of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, DC, Metropolitan.
The suspect was identified as Louis Geri, 41, whose last known direction is Vineland, New Jersey, according to the police.
While arresting Geri, the officers observed that the suspect had “multiple suspicious elements” inside his store, including liquid roads, according to the police.
The Bomb Squad from the Police Department and its incendiary workforce were called to the scene to perform a closer search for the suspect belongings.
Geri was arrested for illegal entry charges, threats to kidnap or hurt a person, and Possession of a Molotov cocktail, according to the police.
The FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Police Department and the Federal Office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives continued to investigate the incident on Sunday afternoon.
The scene was assured and there is no threat to public security, according to the police.
The incident occurred when the cathedral was preparing to celebrate its 73rd annual red mass on Sunday. According to the Cathedral website, the special Mass is traditionally celebrated on Sunday before the first Monday of October, which marks the annual term of the Supreme Court.
The purpose of the Mass, according to the website of the Cathedral, is “to invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice, as well as all public officials.”
According to the Cathedral website, the Red Mass has been previously assisted by Chief Judges and Associated Judges of the Supreme Court, as well as members of Congress and other federal and state leaders.
The funeral for President John F. Kennedy was held in the Cathedral of San Mateo El Apostle on November 25, 1963. During his September 2015 visit to Washington, DC, the late Pope Francis visited the cathedral for midday prayer.
