Florida man sets himself on fire in NYC across from Trump trial, Here's what we know.

A Florida man has died after setting himself on fire Friday afternoon, yards away from the courthouse where former President Donald Trump was sitting during jury selection for his corruption trial for 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The New York Police Department identified the man as Max Azzarello of St. Augustine.

Did a man set himself on fire in NYC across from the Trump trial?

According to Jeffrey B. Maddrey, the Chief of Department for the NYPD, police saw Azzarello walk into Collect Pond Park across the street from the New York County Criminal Court at around 1:30 p.m.

Azzarello pulled some pamphlets and a can out of a backpack, Maddrey said during a press conference. After throwing the pamphlets into the air, "he pulls out a canister and pours some kind of liquid on himself, a liquid we believe is an accelerant, and then he lights himself on fire," Maddrey said. The scene was broadcast live on CNN.

Civilians and NYPD officers rushed forward and tried using coats to put out the fire, Maddrey said, and finally the New York Fire Department was able to extinguish the blaze.

Was anyone hurt when a man set himself on fire in NYC?

"The victim is in critical condition but is alive and intubated at Cornell Burn Center at this time," said New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.

Three NYPD officers and one court officer also had minor injuries from trying to put out the fire, Kavanagh said, but "they are all fine, they are stable."

The accelerant he used "appears to be some kind of alcohol-based substance that's used for cleaning," she said. "Fire marshalls are investigating the event."

Who is Maxwell Azzarello?

Officials said Azzarello was about 37, his driver's license was from St. Augustine and he arrived in New York City sometime in the last few days. His family was unaware he had left Florida when they were notified.

Why did Maxwell Azzarello set himself on fire?

Despite early concerns that this was motivated by the Trump trial, Azzarello's pamphlets suggested other reasons.

"The pamphlet seems to be propaganda-based, almost like a conspiracy theory type of pamphlet," Maddrey said. "Some information in regards to Ponzi schemes, and the fact that some of our local educational institutes are fronts for the mob. So a little bit of a conspiracy theory going on here."

A post on Azzarello's Substack newsletter seems to predict his self-immolation to draw attention to what he called years of investigations.

Maddrey said the NYPD would be reviewing security protocols for the area with their federal partners.

Max Azzarello's troubles in St. Augustine

Azzarello had three run-ins with the law within a week, two that resulted in charges of criminal mischief property damage and public disorderly conduct breach of peace that he pleaded no contest, according to court records. The other was a sworn complaint from Aug. 19, 2023, that involved a Bill Clinton autograph.

The warrant said the framed autograph was on a wall in the lobby of the Casa Monica Hotel. Azzarello is accused of throwing a glass of wine at the wall, staining the autograph when it ran down behind the frame. The damage was estimated from $400 to $500.

Where is St. Augustine?

St. Augustine, which calls itself the oldest city in the United States, is on the northeast coast of Florida between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, in St. Johns County.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Max Azzarello of St. Augustine sets himself on fire, drops manifesto