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Man dies after setting himself on fire outside Trump trial in Lower Manhattan
By
Bahar Ostadan
and
Catalina Gonella
Published Apr 19, 2024
Modified Apr 20, 2024
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Bahar Ostadan/Gothamist
By
Bahar Ostadan
and
Catalina Gonella
Published Apr 19, 2024
Modified Apr 20, 2024
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A man has died after setting himself on fire outside of former President Donald Trump’s ongoing trial in Lower Manhattan Friday afternoon, according to police.
Maxwell Azzarello poured fluid on himself and set himself on fire in a small public park near the courthouse around 1:30 p.m., police said. He remained in flames for nearly 2 minutes, according to video footage of the incident obtained by Gothamist.
The video shows him pouring a liquid on himself before setting himself on fire, as the person filming is heard alerting nearby police officers. After roughly 50 seconds, a man wearing a suit is seen using his coat to try and put out the flames. The video shows Azzarello was engulfed in flames until law enforcement officials ran to him with fire extinguishers and used them to put out the fire.
Azzarello drove to the city from St. Augustine, Florida within the last few days, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. His family was not aware he was in New York, Kenny said.
Officials said Azzarello walked into the park, pulled a handful of pamphlets with a range of conspiracy theories in them from his book bag, and scattered them around the area before pouring the accelerant on himself. Azzarello posted on social media before the incident, Kenny said, adding that police were interviewing “a lot of witnesses.”
The accelerant was an alcohol-based substance used for cleaning, Kenny said.
Azzarello was rushed to Cornell Burn Center by EMS, where he was reported to be in critical condition Friday afternoon, officials said. At roughly 11 p.m. he was pronounced dead.
Marty Heitner, a former photographer, was downtown near the Trump trial hoping to snap some photos of the scene outside the courthouse. Instead, he watched as Azzarello set himself on fire.
“This was possibly the single most upsetting thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Heitner said.
Top NYPD officials quickly arrived on the scene alongside the department’s bomb squad. Officials from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also on the scene.
News reporters surrounded the site of the self-immolation, where a pile of ashes continued to emit smoke.
This story has been updated to reflect Azzarello's death.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org, take the person to an emergency room, or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Tagged
courts
fire
public safety
donald trump
Bahar Ostadan
Bahar Ostadan covers the NYPD and public safety. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or message Bahar on Signal at 646-740-7335.
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Catalina Gonella
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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