New York authorities have confirmed the identity of the man who set himself on fire outside of former President Donald Trump’s trial on Friday as Maxwell Azzarello, a self-professed Trump supporter and “conspiracy researcher.”
Azzarello, 37, of St. Augustine, Florida made the trip up to the Big Apple from the Sunshine State sometime earlier this week, and his family had been unaware he had traveled to the city, police said.
Shortly after the completion of jury selection in the former president’s trial, Azzarello set himself ablaze in Collect Pond Park. He is currently in critical condition at Manhattan’s Weill Cornell Medicine Burn Center, while three NYPD officers and a court officer sustained minor injuries from the fire.
Azzarello, who has a history of sharing conspiracy theories and expressing disdain toward the “elite,” posted a conspiracy-filled manifesto online just before the incident. He labeled his self-immolation as an extreme form of protest against what he deemed a “totalitarian con” and warned of an impending “apocalyptic fascist world coup.”
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“To my friends and family, witnesses and first responders, I deeply apologize for inflicting this pain upon you. But I assure you it is a drop in the bucket compared to what our government intends to inflict,” he wrote.
Before igniting himself, he distributed pamphlets throughout the park containing information reminiscent of conspiracy theories, including references to Ponzi schemes and allegations that local educational institutions were fronts for organized crime.
Azzarello’s family was unaware of his trip to New York, and authorities believe he arrived between April 13th and April 19th. He had no prior record with law enforcement, and his actions did not breach security protocols as the park was open to the public.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrific, with people unable to intervene due to the rapidity of the incident. The pamphlets scattered around the area bore titles such as “The True History of the World.”
Azzarello’s self-immolation occurred as a secret service agent reportedly spoke with Trump inside the courthouse. The trial, which began with jury selection, will proceed without delay, according to a spokesperson for the Manhattan Criminal Court.
Watch the last video Maxwell Azzarello uploaded to Instagram before setting himself on fire:
This is Maxwell Azzarello. The guy who lit himself on fire outside the Manhattan Courthouse today.
“My name is Max Azzarello, and I am an investigative researcher who has set himself on fire outside of the Trump trial in Manhattan,” his manifesto read.
He’s hardcore anti-Trump… pic.twitter.com/R1kdCi8JKh
— Rob (@_ROB_29) April 19, 2024
