Bethesda Man Dies After Lighting Himself On Fire Near White House

BETHESDA, MD — A man who set himself ablaze on the Ellipse near the White House has died from his injuries, the U.S. Park Police announced Thursday.

Authorities identified the man who lit himself on fire as 33-year-old Arnav Gupta, of Bethesda. Montgomery County Police reported him missing on Wednesday after family members said they last saw him leaving his residence on Cindy Lane earlier that morning.

According to the U.S. Park Police, Gupta lit himself on fire Wednesday afternoon on the Ellipse — a public area for tourists and locals to lounge, host community gatherings and functions, and hold demonstrations.

Authorities say officers from the U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Secret Service rushed to the Ellipse near 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW around 12:25 p.m. and tried to extinguish the flames.

People looked on in horror and filmed the burning man as officers put out the fire.

Once the fire was out, Gupta was rushed to a hospital where he later died.

It is unclear why Gupta lit himself on fire.

pic.twitter.com/duIDwIVFyl
— USPPNEWS (@usparkpolicepio) May 30, 2019