Man Sets Himself Afire; Son Also Suffers Burns

A 55-year-old man doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire in front of a restaurant, also burning his 13-year-old son who was trying to extinguish the flames, officials said.

The suicide attempt occurred about 11:45 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of North Western Avenue, said Melissa Kelley of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The unidentified man was taken to a hospital in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over 75% of his body. His son, who tried to put out the flames, suffered third-degree burns on his hands and neck, Kelley said.