The man who set himself on fire outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s hush money trial is taking place told friends of his intention to be a “martyr” just days before committing his fatal protest act.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, his friend and neighbor Bob Warren, 62, who lived next door to Max Azzarello, 37, in Saint Augustine, Florida, revealed: “It was just a few days before he left to New York, we were sitting around back there, drinking beers and he was playing guitar, and we were talking.
“He had some extreme opinions and ideologies and he just said, ‘I guess I’m going to have to become a martyr.’
Tragically, Warren admitted that none of those present to hear Azzarello’s threat took it seriously, but simply laughed at it as the ramblings of a man whom they knew as “generally quiet and a great guy,” but who had in mind The last few months have become increasingly obsessed with conspiracy theories.
Neighbor Bob Warren, 62, revealed that Azzarello told his friends of his intention to be a ‘martyr’ just days before committing his fatal act of protest.
Max Azzarello, 37, seen outside Donald Trump’s criminal trial on Friday holding a sign, moments before setting himself on fire. He died hours later
Azzarello committed self-immolation in an act of protest, while shocked friends said he had delved into conspiracy theories before his suicide.
Warren said: “He just moved into the flat next door about three weeks ago, but he had been coming to hang out for about six or seven months before that.”
‘He was a great guy. We used to chat. I am a Trump supporter. He thought everyone was involved in some conspiracy, so we would just stay away from some topics. We get along well.’
According to Warren, Azzarello considered the move a positive change because, although his father, Richard, 71, lives locally, he had been living in a halfway house.
Warren described himself as “completely surprised” to learn that his friend had followed through on his threat.
He said: “I still think he probably changed his mind four or five seconds after it came on.”
Azzarello took a stack of pamphlets from his backpack and threw them into the air before dousing himself with fuel and accelerant at 1:39 p.m. on Friday.
He died from his injuries shortly before 11pm that night.
Today his white Toyota 4Runner truck sits where he left it outside his apartment building. “Trump is with Hillary and they are about to give us a fascist coup,” is written in permanent marker on the back.
The address of the website where he posted his intention to self-emolate and his belief that cryptocurrency is a vast Ponzi scheme perpetrated against the American people is written below the license.
Warren said he was “completely shocked” by his neighbor’s actions, adding: “I still think he probably changed his mind four or five seconds after he set himself on fire.”
The neighbor said he revealed: “It was just a few days before he left for New York, we were sitting back there, drinking beers and he was playing his guitar, and we were talking.”
After his death, Azzarello’s white Toyota 4Runner pickup truck was found where he left it outside his apartment building. “Trump is with Hillary and they are about to give us a fascist coup,” is written in permanent marker on the back.
Azzarello wrote a number of conspiracy theories on his vehicle, including his belief that cryptocurrency is a huge Ponzi scheme perpetrated against the American people under the license.
According to a neighbor, the sign posted under the rear windshield that read, “This is a revolution” was a recent addition.
In the hours since the horrific incident, friends and former schoolmates have come forward to paint a picture of a wildly intelligent but increasingly troubled young man for whom the death of his mother, Libby, two years ago apparently can have been the catalyst. for its catastrophic collapse.
Yesterday DailyMail.com revealed that Azzarello had just completed 180 days of probation for a series of incidents involving disorderly conduct and destruction of property that saw him frighten the public with his erratic and “wandering” behavior.
Three criminal complaints obtained by this publication show all incidents that took place in August of last year.
In one, Azzarello, who is listed in charging documents as unemployed, threw a glass of wine at a framed, autographed photograph of President Bill Clinton displayed in the lobby of the Casa Monica Hotel in his hometown of Saint Augustine, Florida.
The complaint states that the incident took place on the night of August 19, 2023, and that Azzarello had just finished dinner at the hotel restaurant when he threw the glass at the image, breaking the glass of the framed photograph and damaging it with wine.
Just two days later, on August 21, Azzarello was back at the Case Monica Hotel, where he was reported for “standing outside, stripping and yelling at customers.”
When police arrived, they noticed he was “wearing nothing but underwear, standing on the sidewalk.” [sic] a speaker that plays loud music and screams.
The hotel manager told officers that several guests were “fearful for their safety” and could not enter or leave for fear of Azzarello.
Azzarello said he set himself on fire in an act of protest against the US government, which he accused of orchestrating a ‘fascist coup’.
Azzarello with Bill Clinton in one of his Facebook photos
The protester had a criminal record that included a series of incidents involving disorderly conduct and destruction of property that saw him frighten the public with his erratic and “wandering” behavior.
On August 24, he was arrested once again for graffitiing the property and searching a woman’s belongings in the bed of his truck.
According to the police report, he had been seen screaming in someone’s yard after “misinterpreting” an exterminator sign warning people to keep their children and pets away from a lawn that had just been treated and becoming convinced that the pest control company was “there to exterminate the children.” and dogs.’
To give further insight into his troubled mental state, Azzarello posted an update to his Facebook page earlier that month in which he told his followers that he had just spent three days in a psychiatric ward.
He claimed four police officers showed up at his apartment after he tipped a Starbucks barista $200 and wrote “Go F*** Yourself” on the receipt.
He wrote: “They handcuffed me, pushed me and took me to a psychiatric ward. They didn’t give me any information about why I was there until after my discharge.’