ASBURY PARK, NJ. (1010 WINS) — A New Jersey man has been charged with throwing smoke bombs into a crowd and attempting to pepper spray people while shouting "white lives matter, too" as they left an anti-racism concert at an Asbury Park church in January, authorities announced Monday.
Nicholas G. Mucci, 28, of Toms River, faces second-degree causing or risking widespread injury or damage, second-degree possession of a weapon (explosives) for unlawful purposes, third-degree arson, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree terroristic threats and third-degree possession of a destructive device.
He was arrested Saturday night and remains at the Monmouth County jail pending a detention hearing, according to the state attorney general's office.
According to the charges and court documents filed in the case, Mucci approached the church around 9 p.m. on Jan. 27 and blocked attendees from leaving the concert at Trinity Church on Asbury Avenue. The concert was organized by the "One People's Project," an anti-racism social justice organization.
He allegedly yelled the "white lives matter" remark and threw two smoke bombs toward the church and into the exiting crowd before driving off in a dark-colored SUV.
Surveillance video from the church captured the event, which showed a vehicle resembling Mucci's SUV approaching the church and two items being thrown from the driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle sped away as smoke filled the air and the crowd became visibly alarmed.
Authorities said witnesses reported seeing a dark-colored vehicle circle the church following the incident. The same vehicle pulled into the church parking lot shortly after 10 p.m., where a few concertgoers remained. Mucci allegedly exited the vehicle while still wearing the face mask and attempted to pepper spray the group while again shouting "white lives matter." He then allegedly got back into his car and drove away.
Investigators determined that a license plate reader installed in the area identified a vehicle matching the description of a car known to be operated by Mucci as having been present when the incident occurred.
Cell phone records obtained during the investigation revealed that Mucci's phone went "dark" during the attack. In addition, physical evidence recovered at the scene revealed that the smoke bombs were purchased from a fireworks store in Morrisville, PA. Mucci also allegedly purchased identical items from the store on Oct. 23, 2022, using out-of-state photo identification.
"New Jersey is, and always will be, a state that values the rich diversity of all cultures, religions, and ideals," said Attorney General Platkin said in a statement. "This attack targeted people exercising their freedom of expression as they left a house of worship."
The Asbury Park attack happened the same weekend that Nicholas Malindretos allegedly threw a firebomb at a Bloomfield synagogue in an unrelated incident.
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