Man Allegedly Storms Massachusetts Courthouse With Gas Mask, Tactical Gear, Pepper Spray

A Massachusetts man is facing charges for allegedly storming a courthouse in a gas mask and tactical gear and pepper spraying and assaulting multiple court officers and other individuals, authorities said.

At around 10:30 a.m. Monday, 28-year-old Nicholas Akerberg of Yarmouth Port allegedly entered Woburn District Court in a suburb of Boston wearing a helmet, gas mask, tactical boots and sunglasses, according to a statement from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.

Surveillance video from the courthouse shows a court officer attempting to prevent the suspect from entering. The video shows the suspect gaining access to the courthouse, then proceeding to deploy pepper spray at multiple court officers, a Stoneham police officer and an assistant district attorney.

Akerberg allegedly “punched, shoved and assaulted multiple individuals” before he was subdued by a Taser and placed under arrest. Investigators say Akerberg allegedly had eight canisters of pepper spray and two smoke canisters in his possession.

Akerberg, a Stoneham police officer and two court officers were transported to a local hospital and later released.

Akerberg is charged with six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, five counts of assault and battery on a public employee, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, assault, disrupting a court proceeding, disorderly conduct, bomb threat and intimidation.

“Todays assault was the third serious incident at a courthouse since March 10, 2025,” District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement. “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.”