Nicholas Akerberg in Woburn District Court on Monday, April 14, 2025, after allegedly pepper-spraying several officers in the building earlier in the day.
A person in a gas mask walked into a Massachusetts courthouse and started dispensing pepper spray on Monday, authorities said, leading to the building's evacuation and three officers to be treated.
Nicholas Akerberg, a 28-year-old from Yarmouth Port, was subdued, arrested and later brought back into the same courthouse, Woburn District Court, to face charges including assault and battery, bomb threat and disrupting a court proceeding, District Attorney Marian Ryan said, condemning what happened.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
 |
Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are. |
"These are not just acts of violence, they are challenges to the rule of law and to peaceful, orderly dispute resolution. The rule of law is not a fancy academic concept, it is the foundation of our democracy. Anyone who desecrates these sacred places will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Ryan said in a statement.
Some proceedings in the court were able to continue hours after the pepper spray incident, including Akerberg's arraignment. He was ordered held without bail, had bail revoked on previous cases in the court and was ordered to undergo a mental competency exam. He's due back in court May 2.
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter.
Akerberg walked into the court, past an officer who tried to stop him, about 10:30 a.m. wearing the gas mask, helmet and tactical boots, according to prosecutors. He then allegedly sprayed court officers, a police officer from Stoneham and a prosecutor while punching and shoving people.
A Taser was used as the officers worked to subdue Akerberg, leading to his arrest, prosecutors said, noting that he was found with eight cannisters of pepper spray and two smoke cannisters.
The three officers were were taken to a hospital were later released, as was Akerberg, prosecutors said.
Ryan said the incident Monday "was the third serious incident at a courthouse since March 10," and "is a critical reminder of the need to foster respect for our courts and our dedicated court staffs."
