The FBI says it has arrested the man accused of smashing up a federal prosecutor’s office in Newark after officials offered a $25,000 reward for information about the suspect, Keith Michael Lisa, who allegedly attacked the office with a baseball bat on November 12, 2025.
Federal authorities confirmed the arrest of Keith Michael Lisa in connection with the break-in and vandalism at the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building in Newark, New Jersey. Officials say Lisa is accused of entering the building on November 12 while carrying a baseball bat and later damaging the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
According to the account released by investigators, Lisa approached the building and was denied entry, at which point he discarded the bat but then returned. The report states that once inside, he went directly to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and damaged government property, actions that prompted a swift federal criminal response.
A federal arrest warrant was issued on November 13, 2025, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey. Prosecutors charged Lisa with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility and depredation of federal property, federal counts that carry serious penalties when aimed at judicial or prosecutorial offices.
The FBI had posted a $25,000 reward for information leading to Lisa’s arrest and conviction, information officials say helped move the case forward. Law enforcement sources described the reward notice as part of a broader effort to identify and capture whoever targeted the prosecutor’s office with what investigators called a violent display of vandalism.
The timing and nature of the attack have raised alarm among federal authorities who track threats against the justice system and its officers. Acting U.S. Attorneys and other federal personnel are considered protected by statutes designed to keep the courts and prosecutors functioning without intimidation or physical interference.
Officials noted that incidents like this come amid a broader wave of political violence and threats that have targeted public figures and institutions. Multiple people have tried to assassinate President Donald Trump, and a deranged man publicly assassinated Charlie Kirk in September, events that have sharpened attention on security around public officials and legal offices.
Investigators say they will continue to develop the case and expect federal prosecutors to move forward with the charges already filed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI routinely coordinate on matters where federal buildings and personnel are targeted, and this case will follow that standard investigative path into courtroom proceedings.
As the matter proceeds, the arrest brings a measure of closure to the immediate threat while raising questions about motives, security lapses, and the need for strong protection of judicial and prosecutorial spaces. Authorities indicated the investigation remains active and that additional details will be released as the legal process unfolds.
