TOMS RIVER, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin today announced that a 28-year-old Toms River Township man had been arrested for spraying people with pepper spray, throwing smoke bombs, and shouting “White lives matter” an anti-racism concert in Asbury Park in January.
The Department of Homeland Security arrested Nicholas G. Mucci, 28, with the assistance of the FBI this week.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, Mucci threw smoke bombs, sprayed pepper spray, and shouted allegedly racist comments at a concert held at Trinity Episcopal Parish in Asbury Park on January 27th.
Court records show that at around 9:00 p.m., as the concert was ending, Mucci, wearing a black face covering, approached the church and blocked the attendees from leaving.
Platkin said Mucci yelled, “White lives matter, too,” and threw two smoke bombs toward the church and into the exiting crowd before driving off in a dark-colored SUV.
“Surveillance video of the event, captured by the church’s closed caption video camera, showed a vehicle resembling Mucci’s SUV approach the church and two items being thrown from the driver’s side of the vehicle. As the smoke began filling the air and the crowd became visibly alarmed, the vehicle rapidly sped away,” Platkin said.
A nearby license plate reader detected his vehicle, and police said Mucci’s phone ‘went dark’ during the time of the incident.
He has been charged with causing widespread injury or damage, arson, possession of weapons, terroristic threats, and aggravated assault.
“New Jersey is, and always will be, a state that values the rich diversity of all cultures, religions, and ideals. This attack targeted people exercising their freedom of expression as they left a house of worship,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Our perseverance in investigating and bringing to justice the person responsible for this attack demonstrates our commitment to protecting the rights of all New Jerseyans to live free from the threat of violence and fear.”