Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Priest Allegedly Pointed Musket At 8-Year-Old For Rooting Against Giants
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 3, 2015
Modified Oct 3, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 3, 2015
Modified Oct 3, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A NJ priest has been arrested after he allegedly pointed a musket at an 8-year-old boy and threatened him because the child was rooting against the Giants. Which, yeah, that sounds like a Giants fan alright.
Father Kevin Carter, a 54-year-old priest at St. Margaret of Cortona Roman Catholic Church in Little Ferry, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault by pointing a firearm for the incident.
According to NBC, the priest allegedly approached the child before Mass services at the church on September 13th. Prosecutors say that Carter asked to see him in one of the rectory rooms, where he then retrieved a musket and pointed it at him. "As he raised his weapon and pointed it at the boy, he said, 'I'm going to shoot you,'" Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli told NBC.
The whole thing was apparently sparked because Carter was upset that the child was going to root for the Cowboys instead of the Giants in their NFL season opener. "The young boy was apparently a fan of a particular football team, the priest was not. So perhaps we have indication it started out as that," said Molinelli. "There's no such thing as joking around with a weapon when you're dealing with an 8-year-old kid."
While investigating the allegations, cops found the weapon, a functioning Civil War-style musket, as well as gunpowder, ammunition and other associated items for the gun.
The Giants, of course, lost that game 27-26, so maybe that's a sign that God doesn't like it when his authorized representatives on Earth (jokingly or not) threaten children over stupid football grudges.
Tagged
football
giants
musket
new jersey
nfl
nj
priest
rivalries
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says
The mayor said his administration would review ICE and NYPD actions surrounding Thursday’s shooting.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 11, 2026 at 1:49 p.m. ET
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
By
Mike Hayes
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .