The man who made headlines on Wednesday after he set himself on fire on a lawn near the White House has died, Daily Mail reported.
Following his death, the U.S. Park Police have identified the man as 33-year-old Arnav Gupta.
Gupta was reported missing by his family around the same time that he was spotted setting himself on fire.
A Montgomery County Police Department Facebook post said the Bethesda, Maryland native had been last seen leaving his home at around 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Police said they were “concerned for Gupta’s physical and emotional welfare.”
Three hours after he was last seen leaving his home, Gupta was filmed setting himself on fire.
The incident took place at Ellipse Park, less than a mile away from the White House.
The video, which was obtained by TMZ, appears below and may be disturbing for some viewers.
In the video, Gupta calmly walks across the popular tourist spot with his body engulfed in flames.
Just seconds later, U.S. Secret Service staff run into frame and rush to extinguish Gupta with a fire extinguisher. He had a suspicious package near him, also on fire, which was also extinguished.
Reports claim he was wearing some sort of protective suit which presumably would have protected him from the flames covering his body.
However, Gupta was later transported to a nearby hospital with “life-threatening injuries.”
Now it has been confirmed by the United States Park Police that Gupta has died in the hospital after suffering burns to over 85% of his body.
Motivations behind Gupta’s actions remain unknown at this time.
According to NBC News , the investigaiton is being handled by the Metropolitan Police.
h/t: Daily Mail
