Family Of Man Who Set Himself On Fire Says Act Wasn't Political

[n2doc]

by BILL CHAPPELL
October 08, 2013 9:50 AM

Officials have identified the man who died after setting fire to himself on the National Mall Friday as John Constantino, 64, of Mount Laurel, N.J. After Constantino poured gasoline on his body and ignited it while sitting on the mall Friday afternoon, passersby used their clothing to try to put out the flames. He was eventually airlifted to a hospital, where he died late Friday.

Constantino "had burns so severe that authorities needed to use DNA and dental records to identify him," the AP reports. "District of Columbia police spokesman Paul Metcalf in an emailed statement confirmed his identity."

No messages or signs stating a reason for the shocking act were visible on the mall, according to authorities and witnesses. And in a statement released last night, Constantino's family says that a clear motive may never emerge.

In a statement released through an attorney, the family said of Constantino, "his death was not a political act or statement, but the result of a long battle with mental illness." That's according to The Washington Post. The AP received the same statement, which id not specify what that illness might be; in it, his family called Constantino a "loving father and husband."

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http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/10/08/230405023/family-of-man-who-set-himself-on-fire-says-act-wasnt-political

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Thank you for posting this

It's good to close the loop on the speculation.