Max Azzarello updates — Man who set himself on fire outside of Donald Trump’s trial dies

Inside Azzarello's LinkedIn page

According to his LinkedIn, Azzarello graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005.

He then went on to receive a Master's degree in City and Regional Planning, Technology, and Urban and Community Development, graduating from Rutgers University in 2012.

His LinkedIn about section reads, "We've got a secret fascism problem.

"Peter Thiel started a bank run on Silicon Valley Bank last March, then I fell into a rabbit hole and learned all the secrets of the world.

"The big one? Cryptocurrency is our first planetary multi-trillion dollar Ponzi scheme that's about to collapse the world economy so our elites can try to fascist coup us.

"Join the united movement to abolish this rotten farce forever."

Azzarello lists himself as a self-employed Research Investigator, which he began in March 2023.

Azarello made a post on Substack before self-immolation

Before the blaze, Azarello reportedly tossed several pamphlets in the air, which included links to a Substack newsletter he authored titled The Ponzi Papers.

The Substack's heading, as of April 19, 2024, 4 pm ET, reads: "I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial.

"My name is Max Azzarello, and I am an investigative researcher who has set himself on fire outside of the Trump trial in Manhattan.

"This extreme act of protest is to draw attention to an urgent and important discovery.

"We are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup."

What were Azzarello's pamphlets about?

Police described Azzarello's pamphlets as "propaganda-based".

They said: "Almost like a conspiracy theory-type of pamphlet, some information in regards to Ponzi schemes, and the fact that some of our local educational institutes are fronts for the mob.

"So, a little bit of conspiracy theory going on here."

The pamphlets also contained conspiracy theories about several subjects, including Covid-19, cryptocurrency, Hollywood actors, former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore and Jeffrey Epstein.

What did police say about the incident?

Police responded relatively quickly to the incident despite barriers between the protest area and the courthouse.

Within minutes, dozens of police officers and civilians managed to smother the fire.

The New York Police Department confirmed that Azzarello had removed pamphlets from a backpack shortly before the blaze started.

Investigators also confirmed that a combination of courtroom employees, civilians, and police officers worked together to stop the fire from spreading after the accelerant Azzarello used spread to an area of the park.

"We are very concerned," NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said, referring to the security protocols outside the courthouse. “This man did not breach security.”

"Of course, we are going to review our security protocols," he added, as reported by WPTV News.

Maddrey also confirmed that police had swept the area looking for possible bombs, weapons, or explosives, but no devices were found.

Sad history

Azzarello had reportedly struggled in the years leading up to the April 19 self-immolation.

He suffered the loss of his mother in April 2022 to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, The New York Times reported.

Friends of Azzarello's from his time at Rutgers University said the loss was a catalyst for his erratic behavior. 

Shortly before being arrested twice in 2023, he wrote in a Facebook post about spending time in a psych ward.

“Three days in the psych ward, and all I got were my new favorite socks," the post read. However, there is no way to verify the claim at this time.

Azzarello's criminal background

Azzarello was arrested twice last year within the space of four days.

He was arrested in Florida on August 21 for disturbing the police and was released the next day. He was then arrested days later on August 24 for damaging property and criminal mischief.

He remained at the St. Johns County Jail until October 3 and was released after being sentenced to 180 days of probation.

In both of these arrests, Azzarello was listed as being unemployed. Shortly before those arrests, he wrote in a Facebook post about spending time in a psych ward.

In the bizarre mugshot, Azzarello sticks his tongue out and has one eye closed.

Azzarello's criminal background

Azzarello was arrested twice last year within the space of four days.

He was arrested in Florida on August 21 for disturbing the police and was released the next day. He was then arrested days later on August 24 for damaging property and criminal mischief.

He remained at the St. Johns County Jail until October 3 and was released after being sentenced to 180 days of probation.

In both of these arrests, Azzarello was listed as being unemployed.

In the bizarre mugshot, Azzarello sticks his tongue out and has one eye closed.

What we know about Azzarello's death

On Friday, a man set himself on fire across the street from the downtown Manhattan courtroom where jury selection in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial concluded. He died later that night, according to reports.

• The horrific scene unfolded at 1:30 pm.
• The man, identified as Max Azzarello, was standing in a designated protest area outside the Manhattan courthouse.
• Azzarello pulled out what police described as an alcohol-based cleaning substance from his backpack and doused himself with it.
• He proceeded to light himself on fire.
• Azzarello burned for approximately 3 minutes before he was extinguished and rushed away.
• The man tossed a conspiracy-laden manifesto in the air before the self-immolation act.
• Azzarello was taken to a nearby burn unit and died later that night.
• NYPD officials said Azzarello is from St. Augustine, Florida, and his family was unaware he was in New York.

Who was Max Azzarello?

Max Azzarello, of St. Augustine, Florida, died after setting himself on fire outside of the courtroom where Donald Trump's trial is being held.

A native of Sea Cliff, New York, Azzarello worked for Representative Tom Suozzi in 2013,  The New York Times reported.

He held several jobs in recent years and was most recently listed as being a self-employed Research Investigator.

Last summer, Azzarello was arrested in Florida on August 21 for disturbing the police and was released the next day.

However, he was arrested days later on August 24 for damaging property and criminal mischief, reported The New York Post.

He remained at the St. Johns County Jail until October 3 and was released after being sentenced to 180 days of probation.

First responders struggled to get to Azzarello

Azzarello remained on fire for several minutes before first responders got to him.

Onlookers scrambled to escape the intensity of the heat radiating from the flames.

But because the area was cordoned off, first responders struggled to access Azzarello.

Eventually, dozens of police officers arrived to extinguish the flames.

Six first responders suffered minor injuries in the chaos, the FDNY said.

Azzarello advertised conspiracy theories before self-immolation

Azzarello was outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse when he spread pamphlets advertising conspiracy theories around the park at about 1:35pm on Friday.

He then covered himself in a flammable liquid and lit himself ablaze.

Some of the documents he left strewn about the park also had a link to a Substack that started, “I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial.”

Azzarello, who shared a manifesto online before committing his final act, was spotted with signs in different parts of New York City on Wednesday and Thursday.

He was seen in Washington Square Park wielding a sign singling out New York University on Wednesday. On Thursday, he was in Collect Pond Park displaying a sign with the message: "Trump is with Biden and they're about to Fascist coup us."