In an apparent act of protest, 37-year-old Max Azzarello set himself on fire in Lower Manhattan on April 19, 2024. He later died at the hospital.
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(New York, NY) – A man from Florida is dead after he set himself on fire in Lower Manhattan — just steps away from where the jury was being selected in former President Trump’s so-called “hush money” trial. It happened on Friday, in a park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court. Cops say 37-year-old Max Azzarello was tossing around pamphlets containing theories about politics, government, and an alleged plot to set up fascist rule over Americans.
Suddenly, Azzarello doused himself in some kind of liquid accelerant, according to NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey. He then set himself on fire and was rushed to a local hospital’s burn unit where he eventually died.
Friends and family say Azzarello held “non-mainstream” political views and add that he sort of went off the deep end following the death of his mother. Videos on social media show he encouraged others to take part in a “revolution.” He previously graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey but drove up to New York City from Florida over the past week, according to police investigators.
Meanwhile, former President Trump’s trial is set for opening arguments on Monday. Prosecutors say he made a payment to a woman in order for her to remain quiet about an alleged affair in 2016. Trump denies he and the woman ever had such an affair. Because the alleged nondisclosure agreement was signed in the days leading up to the presidential election, prosecutors argue it should have been classified as a campaign expense.
