An Indian-origin man died after he set himself on fire near the White House on Wednesday, 29 May, the Secret Service said. The incident took place shortly after noon on the Ellipse – south of the president's residence – near 15th Street and Constitution Avenue, the Secret Service said on Twitter.
The United States Park Police issued a statement, saying that the man, identified as Arnav Gupta, was extinguished and later transported to a local hospital for treatment.
However, he died of his injuries later on Wednesday evening. "In accordance with policy, the investigation has been turned over to the Metropolitan Police Department," the US Park Police stated further.
An eye-witness, Alina Berzins, told CNBC that she and her cousins were visiting when the incident took place. Berzins is a 17-year-old high school graduate from Virginia. She said that they saw the man on Ellipse and "he started running, and then we saw him covered in flames."
She said that she was in shock. She also shot a video of the incident that was posted by her father on his Twitter.
Last month, a man set his jacket on fire just outside the White House fence on Pennsylvania Avenue. That man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
(With inputs from PTI, CNBC)
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