Via press release from New Jersey’s Attorney General:
Nicholas G. Mucci, 28, of Toms River, was indicted for aggravated arson (2nd degree); two counts of causing or risking widespread injury or damage (2nd degree); two counts of possession of a destructive device (3rd degree); unlawful possession of a weapon (4th degree); two counts of possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes (3rd degree), two counts of aggravated assault (3rd degree); two counts of terroristic threats (3rd degree); possession of an assault firearm (2nd degree); possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine; and hindering (3rd degree).
Mucci was arrested in March and is being held at the Monmouth County Jail, after the court determined he posed a danger to the community, and ordered him detained pending trial.
The incident occurred on January 27, 2023, during a concert at the Trinity Episcopal Parish on Asbury Avenue in Asbury Park. The concert was organized by a group known as the “One People’s Project,” which bills itself as an anti-racism, social justice organization.
According to the charges and documents filed in the case, at around 9 p.m., as the concert was ending, Mucci, wearing a black face covering, approached the church and blocked the attendees from leaving.
He allegedly yelled, “White lives matter, too,” and threw three 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-circuit video camera, showed a vehicle resembling Mucci’s SUV approaching the church and two items being thrown from the driver’s side. As smoke began filling the air and the crowd became visibly alarmed, the vehicle rapidly sped away.
Witnesses reported seeing a dark-colored vehicle circling the church following the incident. Shortly after 10 p.m., the same vehicle entered the church parking lot where a few remaining concertgoers still gathered.
Mucci, still clad in a black face covering, allegedly exited the vehicle and attempted to pepper spray the group while again shouting, “White lives matter.” He then allegedly got back into his vehicle and left.
In addition, an unknown party vandalized an LGBT pride flag located next to the church’s sign. The flag in question had been vandalized a couple of times in the past.
As you can see below, Mucci has made other news.
Ocean County man indicted in January attack on concert crowd at Trinity Episcopal parish in Asbury Parkhttps://t.co/VncOgUN3fj pic.twitter.com/7WqSp4T7oB
— Anglican Ink (@anglicanink) August 17, 2023
VIDEO THREAD: Police stood back tonight at Penn State as a right-winger pulled a canister of mace out and pointed it at a crowd of anti-Proud Boy protesters surrounding him and his friends.
Officers continued to stand by as he sprayed the crowd, including myself, and ran away. pic.twitter.com/e3JbLiRzKO
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 25, 2022
Alex Stein, who was co-hosting the event (which was ultimately cancelled) at Penn State along with Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, came out and waded into the protesters before the show.
While he didn’t get injured, one person spat on him during the confrontation. pic.twitter.com/P57C8KsJQH
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 25, 2022
That individual holding the large mace can in this image has been identified to me by two sources as Nicholas G. Mucci, 28, of New Jersey.
They tell me Claudino G. Petruccelli, 22, on the right with the glove, is the one who actually maced the crowd.https://t.co/5oSLx9RzUw pic.twitter.com/cSE2NwUJ4G
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 8, 2023
Next on the White Power Chopping Block: Nicholas G. Mucci https://t.co/tXbLyelzlh
— Daryle Lamont Jenkins (@DLamontJenkins) March 6, 2023
Nicholas G. Mucci was arrested in March for alelgedlly throwing smoke bombs and deploying mace at people leaving an anti-racism concert at a church while screaming “White Lives Matter.”
It doesn’t appear he was ever charged for Penn State.https://t.co/IVvc6a8OjX
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 8, 2023
