A police report obtained by Newsweek states that Aaron Bushnell, the U.S. Air Force service member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., was "exhibiting signs of mental distress" before Secret Service officers could engage.
Bushnell, 25, filmed the moment he set himself on fire outside the embassy on Sunday afternoon, screaming "Free Palestine!" as he did so; police have since confirmed that Bushnell died from his injuries.
A public incident report provided by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia to Newsweek also states that at 1 p.m. on February 25, 2024, a unit from the Secret Service Uniformed Division "received a distress call regarding an individual exhibiting signs of mental distress outside the Israeli embassy."
The report continued that before Secret Service Officers "could engage," Bushnell "doused himself with an unidentified liquid and set himself on fire."
While the report does not name Bushnell, it corresponds with the footage of the incident and other reporting since. It adds that "Subject-1" as he's referred to, died at 8.06 pm on February 25.
The full report reads: "On the specified date, time, and location, a unit from the Secret Service Uniformed Division received a distress call regarding an individual exhibiting signs of mental distress outside the Israeli embassy.
"Before the Secret Service officers could engage, the individual, referred to as Subject-1 (SUB-1), doused himself with an unidentified liquid and set himself on fire.
"The Secret Service officers promptly intervened, extinguishing the flames before the arrival of the fire department. SUB-1 was subsequently transported to a local hospital due to the burns sustained from the incident.
"Despite all lifesaving efforts, Sub-1 died and was pronounced dead by Dr. Hui Zheng at 2006 hours."
There is no other information about what the "mental distress" refers to and Newsweek has contacted the Metropolitan Police Department for further comment.
In a separate statement, a police spokesperson told Newsweek "On February 25, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department responded to the 3500 block of International Drive, NW, to assist the United States Secret Service after a man set himself on fire in front of an embassy.
"He was transported by DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital where he later died. MPD is working with the USSS and ATF to investigate the incident.
"The man has been identified as 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell, of San Antonio, TX."
In the video of the incident, Bushnell can be seen walking toward the gates of the Israeli embassy, to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza.
"My name is Aaron Bushnell, I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force and I will no longer be complicit in genocide," he says. "I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal."
The video shows Bushnell walk up to the driveway of the embassy, set his phone down on the ground and pour an unknown liquid from a bottle over himself. He ignites this while repeatedly yelling "Free Palestine."
An Air Force spokesperson did not identify Bushnell but confirmed to Newsweek that the man involved in the incident was an active-duty Airman.
Bushnell was described as "the kindest, gentlest, silliest little kid in the Air Force" by Errico, a friend who met him in 2022, reported independent journalist Talia Jane.
"He's always trying to think about how we can actually achieve liberation for all with a smile on his face," Errico said.
Bushnell's protest comes as Israel's war on Hamas has killed about 30,000 Palestinians, The Associated Press reported, citing the Health Ministry in Gaza.
Israel declared war following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, in which about 1,200 people were killed, according to the AP. Israel's air and ground offensive has since driven about 80 percent of Gaza's population from their homes.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
