WASHINGTON – 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.
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 closed as a result of the emergency.
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, including on what the man's motivation may have been.
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, Wyatt Grantham-Philips
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado man dies after setting himself on fire in front of Supreme Court, police say