Max Azzarello of St. Augustine, Florida, who set himself on fire on Friday afternoon, April 19 outside the Lower Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump's trial was being held, has succumbed to his injuries.
- Apr 20, 2024
AceShowbiz - Max Azzarello, 37, of St. Augustine, Florida, set himself on fire on Friday afternoon, April 19 outside the Lower Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump's trial was being held. He succumbed to his injuries hours later.
Azzarello had been distributing pamphlets in the designated protest area when he doused himself with a flammable liquid and lit himself ablaze. Onlookers watched in horror as he remained on fire for approximately three minutes. First responders struggled to reach him due to the cordoned-off area.
Azzarello's manifesto, which he shared online before the act, contained conspiracy theories and anti-government sentiments. He had been protesting outside the courthouse in the days leading up to the incident and had displayed signs criticizing both Trump and Biden.
Azzarello's family was reportedly unaware of his whereabouts in New York. He had been arrested twice in Florida last August and spent time in a psych ward shortly before those arrests.
According to friends, the loss of his mother in April 2022 may have contributed to his erratic behavior. Azzarello graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Rutgers University, where he received a master's degree in city and regional planning. He was known for leaving supportive messages for classmates and performing karaoke.
In recent years, Azzarello had struggled with mental health issues and unemployment. Prior to the incident, he had been spotted with signs expressing conspiracy theories around New York City.
Six first responders suffered minor injuries while extinguishing the flames.
