A 48-year-old man was pronounced dead after lighting himself on fire outside of a church in Manhattan early Thursday morning, police reported.
Officers said they responded to a 911 call that a man had set himself aflame at St. George’s Episcopal Church on East 16th Street and Rutherford Place around 2:30 a.m..
Police say it is not yet known what circumstances led up to the tragic event.
“When he was coming down the steps the fire got bigger and bigger,” a church-worker, who did want to give his name, told The NY Post. “When he came down, he stood still. He stood there as the flames were growing and growing. The flames were going up – from his waist up. He was burning. Then he walked across the street.”
“He didn’t run. I can’t believe he walked,” the employee added, saying he was surprised at the man’s demeanor. “When I saw the person on fire, there was a moment when he was calm. He probably was on something.”
Officials say he was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
The identity of the man has been released pending family notification, police reported, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.
