Max Azzarello.  Courtesy of Fox 5 News.

Dear Commons Community,

Max Azzarello died yesterday after setting himself on fire outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump or any other aspect of the trial. As reported by Reuters and other media.

The man burned for several minutes in full view of television cameras that were set up outside the courthouse where the Trump  criminal trial is being held.  NBC News quoted New York City police as saying the hospital where the man was taken had declared him dead.

Witnesses said the man pulled pamphlets out of a backpack and threw them in the air before he doused himself with a liquid and set himself on fire. One of those pamphlets included references to “evil billionaires” but portions that were visible to a Reuters witness did not mention Trump.

The New York Police Department said the man, who was identified  as Max Azzarello of St. Augustine, Florida, did not appear to be targeting Trump or others involved in the trial.

“Right now we are labeling him as sort of a conspiracy theorist, and we are going from there,” Tarik Sheppard, a deputy commissioner with the Police Department, said at a news conference.

In an online manifesto, a man using that name said he set himself on fire and apologized to friends, witnesses and first responders. The post warns of “an apocalyptic fascist coup” and criticizes cryptocurrency and U.S. politicians, but does not single out Trump in particular.

A smell of smoke lingered in the plaza shortly after the incident, according to a Reuters witness, and a police officer sprayed a fire extinguisher on the ground. A smoldering backpack and a gas can were visible.

The shocking development came shortly after jury selection for the trial was completed, clearing the way for prosecutors and defense attorneys to make opening statements on Monday in a case stemming from hush money paid to a porn star. The court adjourned later in the afternoon.

Poor soul who was obviously in need of psychological help!

Tony

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