UPDATED 5/30/19 10:15 a.m. ET: The man who set himself on fire on the White House lawn yesterday has passed away from his injuries. The National Park Service identified the man as Arnav Gupta of Bethesda, MD and reported that he died last night after being taken to a nearby hospital.
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A man set himself on fire outside of the White House on Wednesday, according to the Secret Service.
Videos surfaced on social media showing a man engulfed in flames on the White House lawn.
While some believed the incident was a hoax, the Secret Service along with personnel from the National Park Service and US Park Police confirmed that a man did light himself on fire at approximately 12:20 pm EST. Per reports, the Secret Service "responded in seconds" to the incide. Agents put out the flames and administered First Aid before firefighters airlifted the victim to a local hospital.
"I can confirm that we’ve transported one patient with burns from the Ellipse and we’re now on the scene assisting law enforcement," a spokesperson for the Washington, D.C. Fire Department told CNBC.
The event took place close to the Ellipse Park on 15th street and Constitution Avenue in Northwest D.C. This area is commonly known as President's Park South, and is a popular location for various events as it faces most of the city's monuments. A White House official has yet to comment on the situation.
