ASHINGTON – A Colorado man has died after lighting himself on fire in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Friday evening, police said.

The man — who was 50 and from Boulder, Colorado — went to the plaza in front of the court building at about 6:30 p.m. and set himself on fire, D.C. Metropolitan Police said. He was air lifted to a hospital before he died from his injuries.

The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that a medical helicopter landed near the Capitol for a medical emergency.

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In a video tweeted by a Fox reporter, the helicopter was shown landing on the steps of the nation's highest court. Another video from Fox showed a U.S. Park Police helicopter flying near the Capitol. 

Two streets near the Supreme Court were momentarily

More: 'Inexcusable': After errant flight evacuates Capitol, the hunt begins to hold someone accountable

D.C. police did not offer additional details about the incident.

A similar incident happened in 2019, when a 33-year-old man from Bethesda, Maryland died after setting himself on fire outside the White House, United States Park Police said at the time.

The latest incident comes after a false alarm on Wednesday, when the Capitol Police evacuated the Capitol complex after spotting a plane they deemed a "probable threat." 

After the evacuation, authorities determined the plane was actually carrying the U.S. Army's Golden Knights for a parachuting stunt over Nationals Park baseball stadium, home of the Washington Nationals, for Military Appreciation Night.

Contributing: Amanda Pérez Pintado, Wyatte Grantham-Philips

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado man dies after setting himself on fire in front of Supreme Court, police say

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