Man dies after setting himself on fire on Ellipse near White House, officials say

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Thursday, May 30, 2019
Twitter video shows a man engulfed in smoke after setting himself on fire in Washington, D.C.
Alina Berzins

WASHINGTON -- A man who set himself on fire near the White House on Wednesday has died.



The U.S. Park Police identified the man as Arnav Gupta, 33, of Bethesda, Maryland.





The Secret Service wrote on Wednesday that it happened on the Ellipse near 15th Street and Constitution Avenue. Gupta was extinguished and taken to the hospital in critical condition.




Montgomery County officials had shared a message earlier Wednesday that they were looking for Gupta and concerned about his welfare.



Officials have not said whether he was trying to make a political statement.



The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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