One day after a woman was shot and killed for erratic behavior at the U.S. Capitol, a man set himself on fire at the National Mall in Washington D.C.
According to reports, two men walked near the National Gallery and one set up a video camera on a tripod. While one man filmed, the other grabbed a can of gasoline and poured it on himself. The man then grabbed a lighter and set himself on fire.
The man burned until two joggers approached him and used their shirts to help extinguish the flames. However, some witnesses say people filmed the incident on their cell phones instead of helping the burn victim.
By the time firefighters arrived, the man suffered burns over 80 percent of his body. He eventually died from his injuries. The man who shot video on the tripod fled before authorities arrived.
It’s believed that the burning was a planned protest. Authorities are unsure if the incident was in response to the government shutdown.
