A man set himself on fire near the White House on Wednesday, the Secret Service confirmed.
The incident occurred around 12:20pm ET on the Ellipse, a park area south the White House and north of the Washington Monument, according to authorities.
Officers from the United States Park Police and National Park Service also responded to the scene.
“At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid,” the Secret Service wrote.
At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) May 29, 2019
A person near the incident captured it on video and posted it on Twitter. (The video contains graphic content).
The video shows authorities responding to the incident while someone is engulfed in flames. White smoke can also be seen in the video, presumably from a fire extinguisher.
The Washington D.C. Fire Department told CBS News an unidentified adult male was taken to the hospital. He sustained life-threatening injuries, according to the report.
Update 9:34am CT, May 30: According to authorities, the man passed away this morning from the injuries he sustained. He has been identified as Arnav Gupta of Bethesda, Maryland. Gupta was 33.
Man who set himself on fire near White House has died, police say. https://t.co/A10RNSi6va
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 30, 2019
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