A gas-mask-wearing assailant stormed right into a Massachusetts courthouse Monday and unleashed a tirade, pepper-spraying officers and assaulting bystanders at random in a stunning, caught-on-camera assault.
Nicholas Akerberg, 28, confirmed as much as the Woburn District Courtroom within the Boston suburbs locked and loaded with a fuel masks, tactical boots, and sun shades earlier than he barged inside, in accordance with police and safety footage.
As he approached the courtroom entrance, Akerberg fired pepper spray at an officer whereas she was attempting to shut the door on him. Regardless of her efforts, he pushed previous her, dousing her in much more pepper spray earlier than sprinting previous the metallic detector and into the courthouse foyer, the footage exhibits.
He managed to punch, push, and assault a number of bystanders within the course of.
It took six officers and a taser to subdue him, in accordance with the video.
In whole, Akerberg had eight canisters of pepper spray and two smoke canisters with him, the Middlesex district lawyer’s workplace stated.
He was arrested and brought for a psychological well being analysis at Bridgewater State Hospital, in accordance with police.
He has an intensive historical past of rocky psychological well being, together with 5 prior court-mandated commitments to psychological well being establishments, in accordance with courtroom paperwork obtained by CBS Information.
In 2023, Akerberg was arrested for punching a 67-year-old neighbor. He additionally attacked law enforcement officials with pepper spray in 2024 whereas resisting arrest for assault and battery with a harmful weapon and violation of a safety order, the outlet reported.
For Monday’s courtroom rampage, he was charged with six counts of assault and battery with a harmful weapon and a number of other different fees, the district lawyer’s workplace stated.
Akerberg was ordered held at a Monday arraignment, and his bail was revoked. He’s due again in courtroom on Might 2.
With Put up wires.
