Toms River Man Shouted 'White Lives Matter' In Attack At Church Anti-Racism Concert: AG

ASBURY PARK, NJ — A Toms River man has been charged in an attack on people leaving an anti-racism concert at an Asbury Park church in January, where witnesses said he yelled "white lives matter" while throwing smoke bombs and pepper-spraying people, the New Jersey Attorney General's office announced.

Nicholas G. Mucci, 28, of Toms River, was arrested Saturday night in the Jan. 27 attack at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. There were no injuries reported at the time.

The concert was organized by a group known as the “One People’s Project”, which bills itself as an anti-racism, social justice organization, the attorney general's office said.

As the concert was ending, about 9 p.m. on Jan. 27, Mucci, who was wearing a black face covering, approached the church and blocked the attendees from leaving, authorities said. Witnesses said he 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," the attorney general's office said. Read more: Possible Bias Incident At Asbury Park Church, Attorney General Says

Surveillance video of the event showed a vehicle resembling Mucci’s SUV approach the church and two items being thrown from the driver’s side of the vehicle. As smoke began filling the air and the crowd became visibly alarmed, the vehicle rapidly sped away, authorities said.

Witnesses reported seeing a dark-colored SUV circling the church shortly after that, and just after 10 p.m. it pulled into the parking lot where some concert-goers remained, authorities said.

They said Mucci, still clad in a black face covering, got out of the SUV and tried to pepper spray the group while again shouting, “White lives matter.” He then got back into his vehicle and left, the attorney general's office said.

Mucci's SUV was identified by a license plate reader installed in the area as having been present when the attack happened, the attorney general's office said.

In addition, investigators were able to determine from physical evidence recovered at the scene that the smoke bombs were purchased from a fireworks store in Morrisville, Pennyslvania. The investigation revealed that Mucci purchased identical items from the store on Oct. 23, 2022, and provided out-of-state photo identification in order to make the purchase, the attorney general's office said.

"Cell phone records obtained during the investigation indicated that Mucci’s cell phone had 'gone dark' " during the time of the Jan. 27 attack, authorities said.

Mucci is charged with second-degree counts of causing or risking widespread injury or damage and of possession of a weapon (explosives) for unlawful purposes. He faces third-degree counts of arson, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and possession of a destructive device, the attorney general's office said.

"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," Platkin said.

"The alleged actions of this defendant presented a clear risk to the public that could have ended in tragedy," said Pearl Minato, director of the Division of Criminal Justice. "I commend the members of law enforcement for their collaborative work in identifying and apprehending the defendant, who will now face justice for his alleged crimes."

Mucci was arrested by investigators from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, detectives from the state Division of Criminal Justice, and troopers from the New Jersey State Police, with the assistance of the FBI. He is being held at the Monmouth County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The attorney general's office said the following agencies assisted in the investigation: the FBI, New Jersey State Police, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, the Wall Police Department, the Toms River Police Department, and the Berkeley Township Police Department.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three of five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.