(ConservativeHub.com) – Max Azzarello, a man who set himself on fire outside the New York courthouse where former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial is underway, has died from his injuries, the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed on April 20. He was 37 years old.
The incident occurred a day prior when Azzarello entered a park adjacent to the Manhattan courthouse, an area that has been the site of ongoing protests since the trial began. He distributed pamphlets with conspiracy theories before dousing himself in an accelerant and igniting the fire.
During a press briefing, NYPD officials described Azzarello as a “conspiracy theorist” who had traveled from Florida to New York earlier in the week. They emphasized that his actions were not targeted at anyone specific.
Following the tragic event, law enforcement officials stated that they are reassessing the courthouse’s security measures. Access to the areas where the former president enters and exits the courthouse had already been restricted to the public.
Social media footage captured the desperate attempts of bystanders trying to extinguish the flames using a suit jacket before someone else managed to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. He was transported to New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he later died.
This distressing event coincided with the conclusion of jury selection for the trial, which saw 12 primary jurors and six alternates finalized. The trial proceeded with opening statements on Monday.
The jury selection itself was a meticulous process, taking four days as some potential jurors, ultimately not selected, voiced concerns about the intense media scrutiny associated with the case.
The trial centers around accusations against Trump for allegedly falsifying business records linked to a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, intended to prevent her from disclosing an alleged affair. Trump has denied these allegations, pleading not guilty.
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