NEW YORK

College professor from NJ charged with attempted arson at St. Patrick's

Two days after he was arrested for allegedly refusing to leave a Newark cathedral, a college professor from Hasbrouck Heights brought gasoline cans, lighter fluid and at least one lighter to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York on Wednesday, authorities said.

Marc Lamparello, 37, was identified as the man who allegedly brought at least one full can of gasoline to the historic Catholic cathedral, two days after a fire nearly destroyed historic Notre Dame Cathedral, said John Miller, deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism of the New York City Police Department, during a press conference Thursday. 

Lamparello was charged with attempted arson, reckless endangerment and trespassing, an NYPD tweet said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center for a psychiatric evaluation, the NYPD said. 

Lamparello was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University and part-time professor at Lehman College. A Seton Hall spokeswoman said he started in spring 2018 but is no longer part of the faculty, though she could not confirm whether he has been fired. 

"Seton Hall's top priority is the education and welfare of our students and the entire campus community," spokeswoman Laurie Pine said. 

Lamparello taught online at Lehman starting in the 2018-19 academic year.

"We are taking the appropriate steps to terminate the individual’s employment with the college,” Lehman spokeswoman Sarah Ramsey said.

On Thursday morning, a man who answered the door at Lamparello's listed Berkshire Road home said he didn't know where Lamparello was or any other details. 

"We have no information yet," said the man, who did not give his name. "If you want to try to tomorrow we'd be happy to talk. But we don't know anything yet. We haven't heard from the authorities or anything. I don't know where he [Marc] is."

Chris DiLorenzo, Lamparello's attorney, left the house at 3:20 p.m. after arriving shortly before, and said only that there would be no comment until after the arraignment. Lamparello's mother, Dolores, said the family's attorney advised her not to speak. 

When asked about the family's faith, Dolores Lamparello said they're "regular Catholics." Marc Lamparello lives at the Hasbrouck Heights home with his parents, Dolores said. 

When he was taken into custody, Lamparello had four gallons of gasoline, two bottles of lighter fluid and lighters but was stopped by security when he went inside at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, Miller said during a Wednesday press conference. 

Marc Lamparello.

“He is approached by the usher working at the front door, who tells him he cannot proceed into the cathedral with these items,” Miller said Thursday. “So when he puts it down, some of it spills on the floor. He picks it up and leaves, at which point the usher alerts the counterterrorism bureau critical response command striker team.”

The incident does not appear to be terrorism-related, Miller said. At no point did Lamparello refer to the Notre Dame fire, police said.

On Thursday, visitors were pouring in and out of the cathedral.

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“It’s really sad,” Jason Cerna, who was visiting from Colombia, said about the incident. “We’ve always wanted to come here. My wife reminded me about what happened before going inside. You can’t let that stop you. I’ve enjoyed it here.”

During questioning Wednesday night, Lamparello told police his minivan had run out of gas and that he was cutting through the cathedral to get to Madison Avenue, police said. When police checked Lamparello's car, it was not out of gas, police said.

Lamparello had purchased a $2,800 one-way airplane ticket to Rome, from Newark Liberty International Airport. The flight was scheduled to leave Thursday evening.

He was also scheduled to teach at Seton Hall on Wednesday night but canceled through an email that said he was sick, according to Seton Hall's student newspaper, The Setonian

Lamparello's arrest in New York comes just two days after he was arrested for reportedly refusing to leave the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. At about 10 p.m. Monday, Lamparello arrived at the cathedral, removing his cap, blessing himself and sitting down in one of the front pews, said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura.

"He was very respectful," Fontoura said. "He was just there being respectful, no problem."

It was when officers approached Lamparello later in the night, as they began to clear the church, that the situation turned, with Lamparello refusing to leave, despite repeated requests, Fontoura said.

"They finally get to him and say, 'Sir, you'll have to leave. We're gonna close up now,' " Fontoura said. "He said, ‘No, I'm not leaving. This is the house of God. It should stay open.' "

Even after an assistant bishop and a priest held special prayers with Lamparello, he refused to leave, throwing himself on the floor and telling police that the only way he would leave was in handcuffs, Fontoura said.

"If you want to take me you'll have to put me in handcuffs and lock me up," Lamparello said, according to Fontoura. "That’s the only way I'm going."

Lamparello was ultimately charged with trespassing, obstructing the administration of law and resisting arrest, Fontoura said. He was due in court May 1.

Lamparello graduated from Boston College, police said. He is currently a CUNY student seeking a Ph.D. in philosophy.  

Lamparello lives in the two-story Hasbrouck Heights home with his father, Lenny, and mother, said Salvatore Altomare, who said he has known the family for years. Altomare, who is from Hasbrouck Heights, described the Lamparellos as a good, religious family.

Lamparello was not always at the Berkshire Road home, but Altomare recalled him and his brother Adam going with their parents to St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in East Rutherford. To Altomare, there were no hints of dysfunction in Lamparello.

A woman who answered the phone at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church declined to comment, referring questions to the Archdiocese of Newark. The archdiocese spokeswoman declined to comment on Lamparello, citing the investigation, but assured that the Sacred Heart cathedral was safe.

"Our cathedral's security team is vigilant," Maria Margiotta said. "And ensures a safe environment for all who visit."

"He came in and out," Altomare said of Lamparello. "He wasn't at the scene all the time. I just met him a couple of times. Seemed like a regular guy. Nice guy. Walked a straight line. He wasn't weird."

Staff Writers Nicholas Katzban and Joshua Jongsma contributed to this article. 

Email: torrejon@northjersey.com