The D.C. man who set himself on fire and later died from his injuries has been identified by authorities as John Constantino of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.
The horrific incident took place at the National Mall, which holds many of the war monuments in the nation’s capital. Constantino, 64, doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire on October 4.
First responders came to his aid almost immediately, but he was severely injured and was airlifted to a hospital where he remained in critical condition until he died from his injuries.
As reported by The Inquisitr, the man, now identified as John Constantino, passed away from the burns he suffered as a result of the fire on Friday.
Constantino was reportedly semi-conscious when paramedics arrived after being helped by bystanders who came to put out the fire.
The Metropolitan Police Department is still uncertain as to what caused the D.C. man on fire to do what he did and is asking anyone with information to call their office.
“I saw a man sitting in flames,” Adam Stifel, a man jogging in the area at the time, told CNN . “He had already doused himself in gasoline, I believe.”
Stifel said he and a small group of bystanders were hitting Constantino with their t-shirts in an effort to put out the fire.
The incident occurred within about a mile of where a woman led D.C. police on a high speed chase, which resulted in Capitol police killing her.
Police are still trying to figure out if the man’s actions were some kind of protest.
In the past, self immolation has been used by individuals in political protests. We do not know if the D.C. man on fire was trying to make a point because of the venue in which he took his life.
