On Friday, a man set himself on fire in front of the courtroom in New York City hosting the Donald Trump hush-money trial.
Police had "responded to a 911 call to aid a person in the vicinity of 80 Centre Street," according to the New York Police Department, which was reported to The National.
The man was taken to the burn unit of a nearby hospital, but he subsequently passed away from his wounds.
Maxwell Azzarello, a Floridian in his late 30s, was recognized by police as the deceased guy.
"At this point, we are classifying him as a conspiracy theorist, and we will proceed accordingly," Tarik Sheppard, a deputy commissioner of the Police Department, stated during a press briefing.
According to the NYPD, four policemen were sent to the scene of the fire with minor injuries. The event is still being looked into, according to the police.
When the event happened, CNN anchor Laura Coates was reporting live from outside the courtroom. She described a man in the park across the street from the courthouse as "fully ablaze" and "engulfed in flames."
A person was seen on the ground wrapped in flames in a video that was posted on X. Numerous police officers responded quickly to the incident and doused the man in flames with fire extinguishers.
Coates stated, "I smell burning—not just burning flesh, but burning agents as well as accelerants to put out that fire."
Prior to lighting himself on fire with a liquid accelerant containing alcohol, Mr. Azzarello was observed hurling leaflets that contained information regarding conspiracy theories against the government, according to the police.
Because the former US president must be present for the historic court procedures, the area surrounding the Manhattan District Court is under increased protection, with local law enforcement and Secret Service officers deployed.
In order to hide any scandals involving three individuals—including adult film star Stormy Daniels, who says she had an affair with Mr. Trump—Mr. Trump is being charged with 34 felonies.
The Republican frontrunner for president has maintained his innocence in the face of criminal accusations and denied having had any affair.
The trial at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse finished with the selection of a full jury of 12 members and six alternates just minutes before the self-immolation.
Later, an attempt by Mr. Trump's legal team to postpone the trial was unsuccessful.
Reporters in the courtroom were informed by Judge Juan Merchan that "we're going to have opening statements on Monday morning." "This trial is starting."