Man Carrying Peace Sign Sets Self Afire, Dies Rejecting Help
A man carrying a peace sign set himself on fire and died Monday, refusing help from onlookers who tried to smother the flames, police said.
Witnesses told police that the man doused himself with a flammable liquid, lighted a match and was engulfed by flames, said Officer Charles Flahive.
Several people tried to put out the flames using their coats, but the man refused help. A police officer put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.
Police could not immediately say what motivated the man. The incident occurred on the Amherst common, scene of protests against the Gulf War in this western Massachusetts town.
A Massachusetts driver’s license, believed to belong to the victim, was taped to the sign, which said only “Peace,” police said. They did not release his name but said he was 20 years old.
Pat Lattuca, a waiter working nearby, said he heard an explosion, rushed to the scene and saw a small white Buddha near the body.
“It was really horrible,” he said.
Eddy Goldberg ran out of a nearby cafe when he saw the flames. “I saw the smoke rising from the common. He went up in a fireball,” he said.
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