UNC graduate who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say

NEW YORK -- A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.

The man was identified as Maxwell Azzarello, who attended classes at UNC years ago.

The New York City Police Department told The Associated Press early Saturday that Azzarello was declared dead by staff at an area hospital.

Azzarello is from St. Augustine, Florida. However, the University of North Carolina confirmed that he was a student from 2005-2009.

During that time, he earned a B.A. in Public Policy and Anthropology.

Azzarello was in Collect Pond Park around 1:30 p.m. Friday when he took out pamphlets espousing conspiracy theories, tossed them around, then doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire, officials and witnesses said.

Police said they reviewed the man's Substack page, with the heading: "I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial."

Max Azzarello described himself as an "investigative researcher" and explains in 2,648 words his reasons for setting himself ablaze. The government is a Ponzi scheme and a "totalitarian con."

Many police officers were nearby when it happened. Some officers and bystanders rushed to the aid of the Azzarello, who was hospitalized in critical condition at the time.

He, who police said recently traveled from Florida to New York, had not breached any security checkpoints to access the park.

The park outside the courthouse has been a gathering spot for protesters, journalists and gawkers throughout Trump's trial, which began with jury selection Monday.

Through Friday, the streets and sidewalks in the area around the courthouse were generally wide open and crowds have been small and largely orderly.

Authorities said they were also reviewing the security protocols, including whether to restrict access to the park. The side street where Trump enters and leaves the building is off-limits.

"We may have to shut this area down," New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said at a news conference outside the courthouse Friday, adding that officials would discuss the security plan soon.

Azzarello filed a lawsuit in April 2023 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Clinton Foundation and a wide range of other business and technology figures. The suit, attached, expressed a wide-ranging conspiracy theory about cryptocurrency and the global economy and was dismissed in October 2023.

Trump is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

The trial began on Monday with jury selection. The full jury panel was selected by mid-day Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.