In a shocking incident outside Manhattan Criminal Court, 37-year-old Max Azzarello from St. Augustine, Florida, set himself on fire amid the ongoing hush money trial of former President Donald Trump. The event occurred in Collect Pond Park, directly across from the courthouse, shortly after the jury was finalized for the trial.
Azzarello, who identified himself as an “investigative researcher,” entered the park just after 1:30 p.m., removed his jacket, and doused himself with what appeared to be an alcohol-based accelerant before igniting the fire. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey described the horrific scene, noting that Azzarello was on fire alongside areas of the park where the accelerant had spilled.
Civilians, court officers, and police officers rushed to extinguish the flames using their coats and fire extinguishers. Disturbing footage captured Azzarello engulfed in flames, which lasted several minutes as bystanders and officials attempted to douse the fire.
Moments before setting himself ablaze, Azzarello scattered colorful pamphlets into the air, which included links to a Substack page titled “I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial.” In his manifesto published online before the incident, he claimed his self-immolation was an “extreme act of protest” against a supposed “totalitarian con” and an “apocalyptic fascist world coup.”
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny highlighted that the pamphlets seemed to contain conspiracy theory material, referencing Ponzi schemes and alleging that local educational institutions were fronts for the mafia.
Azzarello was critically injured and taken to Cornell University Hospital’s burns unit. Several NYPD officers and a court officer who assisted in extinguishing the fire suffered minor injuries. The area around the park was subsequently secured, and a bomb squad along with police dogs conducted a thorough sweep.
This tragic event underscores the extreme measures some individuals will resort to in order to express their dissent or call attention to their causes. The authorities continue to investigate the full scope and motivation behind Azzarello’s actions.