A man described by authorities as a "conspiracy theorist" set himself on fire outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump was participating in the final day of jury selection for his "hush money" trial.
Moments after the final alternate jurors had been chosen on Friday afternoon, rounding out the 18-member panel set to hear the trial, Fox News Channel was live outside the courthouse for a report from the network's Eric Shawn when he spotted flames shooting high into the air from the park behind his cameraman.
Shouting for the camera to turn before realizing the fire was not a trash can but a person, Shawn quickly called for a fire extinguisher or coats to smother the flames. Fox News quickly cut away from the feed to courtroom sketches of the Trump trial as Shawn continued calling for help.
Watch the moment as it happened live:
Fox News was live when a man "set himself on fire in the protest area here at the Donald trump trial."
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) April 19, 2024
(warning: graphic) pic.twitter.com/k5q0r131uG
Shawn said in a subsequent report that the man was in a "protest area" when he set himself on fire. After speaking with other witnesses, he said that the man was walking toward an area where a group of Trump supporters were gathered and started throwing colorful pieces of paper in the air which grabbed attention from onlookers. After tossing the papers, the man then doused himself with a flammable liquid and lit himself on fire.
According to Shawn's recounting of the incident, coats and a fire extinguisher were used to put out the flames and first responders quickly arrived on the scene. Shawn also noted that the man was still moving a bit as he was being treated.
In a press conference Friday afternoon, authorities identified the man as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, from St. Augustine, Florida, who arrived in the city sometime this week. Police said they had contacted his family and they were unaware he was in New York.
Local law enforcement agencies said they were unfamiliar with Azzarello and that he remained in critical condition and intubated at Cornell Burn Center.
The man who self-immolated outside the courthouse where Trump’s trial is being held has been identified. pic.twitter.com/xF24FDLllc
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 19, 2024
Officials said the papers he had were "propaganda-based" pamphlets about conspiracy theories and that the accelerant he used was some kind of "alcohol-based substance used for cleaning." It is not believed that the self-immolation was related to the Trump trial taking place across the street.
Police are still investigating but say they currently have no reason to believe there is any connection between the man who lit himself on fire and the Trump trial:
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 19, 2024
"We do not believe this was targeting any particular person or any particular group. We're just, right now,… pic.twitter.com/x8xxAA8amU
In addition, authorities said three NYPD officers and one officer of the court sustained "minor injuries from their exposure" but all are in stable condition and expected to make full recoveries.
This story has been updated with additional details provided by authorities.