In a shocking display of protest, Max Azzarello, a 37-year-old man from St. Augustine, Florida, set himself on fire in Collect Pond Park, New York City, directly across the street from where former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial was being held. The incident occurred in the late afternoon of April 18, 2024. Azzarello died from his injuries later that night.
Azzarello, an “investigative researcher,” had recently traveled to New York City from Florida. According to police reports, he did so without the knowledge of his family, and he had been seen protesting in front of the courthouse in the days leading up to the incident. His demonstration involved scattering pamphlets that contained links to a Substack newsletter. In this newsletter, he alleged a global “totalitarian con” perpetrated by governments around the world.
Before igniting himself, he was reportedly heard yelling about being a target of a governmental conspiracy. In a portion of his rambling manifesto on his Substack page, he wrote, “This extreme act of protest is intended to highlight a crucial and urgent revelation: We are the victims of a totalitarian scam, and our government, along with its allies, is on the verge of unleashing a catastrophic fascist global coup.”
Witnesses described the scene as horrifying, including 25-year-old start-up founder William Schoeffler, who conveyed the details to the media. “He was just standing there, and after a minute, he hit the ground. “By the time the police arrived, the fuel had already burned away from his body, exposing his skin,” Schoeffler explained.
Law enforcement and emergency services responded quickly to the scene, and Azzarello was transported to a nearby hospital’s burn unit in critical condition, where he died around 10:30 p.m. the same evening. The incident did not appear to target any individuals or the ongoing court proceedings directly, but it did raise security concerns around the courthouse.
Azzarello had been arrested three times in Florida in August of the previous year, with charges including disturbing the peace and damage to property. His mental state at the time of those arrests was noted by the Florida police, describing him as suicidal and unemployed.
In April 2023, Azzarello brought a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Clinton Foundation and various figures from business and technology. The lawsuit alleged a broad conspiracy involving cryptocurrency and the global economy. It was dismissed in October 2023.
Friends and acquaintances described a noticeable change in his demeanor after his mother passed away two years ago. He began to vocalize more frequently his support for various conspiracy theories. These included bizarre claims about the COVID-19 pandemic being an “economic doomsday device” and educational institutions acting as fronts for the mob.
Despite his troubled history, those who knew him remembered a different side of Azzarello. “Max was caring and supportive when we were at college together. It’s hard to reconcile that with what he became,” a former classmate shared with local media.
