A 48-year-old man died after setting himself on fire on the steps of a Manhattan church before collapsing into the street in front of the structure early Thursday, according to police.
A witness contacted 911 around 2:30 a.m. to report that the man, who may be homeless, had set himself on fire at East 16th Street and Rutherford Place, a tree-lined intersection where St. George’s Episcopal Church is located, according to police.
Viewers of the distressing scene, who were approximately 50 feet away, told detectives that the man said nothing as he started the lethal fire and then collapsed.
A church worker saw video of the atrocity, which shows the fire starting small — at the top of the steps in the area near the door.
The unconscious and unresponsive male was pronounced deceased on the site by responding EMS personnel. His name has yet to be disclosed, pending notification of his family.
It was not immediately clear how the individual set himself on fire, and police said the investigation is ongoing.
