Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial courthouse has died, police say

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX) – The man who set himself on fire outside the New York City courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial has died, authorities said.

The man, identified by police as 37-year-old Max Azzarello, was declared dead by staff at a hospital Friday night, according to the NYPD.

Azzarello had walked into Collect Pond Park in Lower Manhattan around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, opened a bookbag, and threw pamphlets containing conspiracy theories into the air, according to NYPD Chief of Department James Maddrey.

A witness told Nexstar’s WPIX they were standing next to him when he poured a flammable liquid on himself, told her to stand back, and then lit himself on fire. The witness said he made statements of a political nature before the incident.

People rushed over, doused the man with a fire extinguisher and tried to bat the flames away. Emergency crews rushed the man away on a stretcher. Police said he was likely to die.

Someone who claimed to be Azzarello had previously sent an email to news media, including WPIX, explaining his reasoning behind his self-immolation protest.

Azzarello identified himself as an investigative researcher and said he set himself on fire to “draw attention to an urgent and important discovery.” His letter referenced a conspiracy theory related to the United States government and its allies.

Azzarello had traveled from Florida ahead of Friday’s incident, police said. He did not breach any checkpoints in accessing the park.

The incident took place across the street from the courthouse that has been a gathering point for protesters and media outlets covering jury selection for Trump’s hush money trial. The area was searched for possible bombs. No devices were found, police said.

A full jury of 12 people and six alternates had been seated in Trump’s hush money case just minutes before the fire, drawing the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president a step closer to opening statements.

This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.