Report: Man sets self on fire on National Mall
Oct 4, 2013, 9:11 PM | Updated: 9:11 pm
A man reportedly set himself on fire Friday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Metro source tells me man doused himself in gasoline and lit himself on fire at 7th and Jefferson on the Mall @nbcwashington
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) October 4, 2013
JUST IN: Man found on fire on the National Mall, D.C. Police Dept. says; male found 'conscious & breathing'
— NBC Nightly News (@nbcnightlynews) October 4, 2013
Witnesses said they were unsure why the man set himself aflame.
Just witnessed the craziest thing ever… a man set himself on fire and danced down the Mall. #horrifying
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
Scene on the mall when man set himself on fire. pic.twitter.com/lv4qwRxiKp
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
Sink went on to say that a runner and passerby helped extinguish the flames.
My mom was near the guy who lit himself on fire on the Mall. Says these guys put it out with their shirts pic.twitter.com/xJToYEurqI
— Justin Sink (@JTSTheHill) October 4, 2013
Both police and fire departments responded quickly to the scene.
Massive fire & EMS response on National Mall. Medivac helicopter just took off from scene. Developing… pic.twitter.com/uY155U8nOs
— Jeff Goldberg (@jgoldbergABC7) October 4, 2013
Numerous protests have taken place in Washington since the federal government partially shutdown on Monday evening. It is unknown if this incident is related to a shutdown protest.