Fire extinguishers (R) are left at the park across from Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City after a man reportedly set himself on fire during the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York City on April 19, 2024.
Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images
A Florida man set himself on fire Friday outside of the New York courthouse where a jury was being picked for the criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump.
The man, identified by police as Max Azzarello, was taken to the Cornell Burn Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he was in very critical condition and not expected to survive.
“His condition is not good, but of a right now he’s still alive,” a police official said of Azzarello, a St. Augustine resident who is in his mid-30s.
NBC News reported that the Azzarello was in an area across from Manhattan Supreme Court that is cordoned off for protestors.
Flames from the fire reached 20 feet into the air before police were able to put out the fire using a large extinguisher after a smaller extinguisher was unable to do the job, video showed.
Azzarello’s motives were unknown but papers containing conspiracy theories were found around him.
“We do not believe he was targeting any particular person or any particular group,” another police official told reporters.
The last jury spots were being filled around the time the fire occurred. Trump was inside the courthouse at the time.
Officials told people inside the courtroom, including Trump, that they were free to leave the building, which is located in lower Manhattan, close to a federal courthouse, City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge.
It was not clear if court would adjourn for the day as a result of the incident.
Judge Juan Merchan had been scheduled to hold a hearing Friday afternoon on the admissibility of past conduct by Trump as evidence at the trial.
The area where the incident took place has been filled this week with journalists, protesters, counter-protesters and other passersby seeking a glimpse of the historic trial site.
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was spotted just outside the building.
Karoline Leavitt, spokeswoman for Trump’s presidential campaign, in a statement Friday said, “Not knowing the motivations behind this sickening situation, it’s difficult to make any definitive remarks, other than to say we are thankful that to the best of our present knowledge, nobody other than the individual in question was hurt.”
“We also extend our condolences to the traumatized witnesses on the scene and offer our deepest gratitude to the great first responders of the City of New York for their actions,” Leavitt said. “Today is more proof that our nation is in deep trouble and that perhaps more than ever, we all must work to Make America Great Again.”
This is developing news. Check back for updates.
