A former Long Island resident died Friday hours after he lit himself on fire in a park across the street from the Manhattan courthouse where jurors were seated in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump.
The one-time Long Islander, who police identified as Maxwell Azzarello, worked on the campaign for Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) in 2013, when the legislator unsuccessfully ran against Edward Mangano for the seat of Nassau County executive.
“Max Azzarello worked on my campaign for Nassau County executive in 2013 as part of our field staff,” Suozzi said in a statement. “Even though I haven’t seen or spoken to Max since then, I recall him being very kind, smart and hardworking. His is a tragic story and I am keeping Max and his family in my prayers.”
NYPD officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:39 p.m. on Friday. When police officers arrived at the downtown Manhattan scene, they saw a man engulfed in flames. FDNY personnel extinguished the fire, NYPD officials said.
The 37-year-old man was transported by EMT personnel to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, according to NYPD officials. At the time of a NYPD press conference livestreamed on X at 3:07 p.m. Friday, Azzarello was reportedly in critical condition. He died later that night.
Azzarello lived in St. Augustine, Fla., but previously lived on Long Island. He resided in Sea Cliff between 2001 and 2022 and graduated from North Shore High School in Glen Head in 2005, according to public records obtained by Newsday.
Witnesses at the scene observed a man walking from Leonard Street to the center of Collect Pond Park, across from the courthouse, where he opened his bag, removed pamphlets and began throwing the papers throughout the park, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said.
The pamphlets appeared to be a form of propaganda spouting conspiracy theories, including messages about Ponzi schemes and claims that local educational institutes are fronts for the Mafia, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
The man then poured liquid on himself from a canister and lit himself on fire, taking a few steps before falling over a police barrier to the ground, Maddrey said. Some other areas on the ground in the park also lit into flames, Maddrey said. The liquid the man used appeared to be an alcohol-based cleaning substance, Kenny said.
“Civilians, court officers and members of the Police Department, they run into the park. They make efforts to put him out,” Maddrey said. “They use their coats. They use fire extinguishers. Eventually, FDNY responds and were able to extinguish the fire.”
Three NYPD officers and one court officer at the scene sustained minor injuries, according to FDNY officials.
NYPD officials said they do not believe Azzarello was targeting anyone at the scene with the fire.
Officers said they believe Azzarello arrived in New York sometime between April 13 and April 19, since his car was last seen in St. Augustine on April 13. His family members were unaware he was in New York, NYPD officials said.
