THIS is the first picture of the climate activist who died after allegedly setting himself on fire on Earth Day outside the US Supreme Court Building.
Wynn Bruce, 50, from Boulder, Colorado, died Saturday, a day after heis said to have set himself ablaze in Washington DC, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
It’s thought he had been planning to take his own life since 2020, when he posted a cryptic Facebook message which included a fire emoji and the date of his death – April 22, 2022.
A Buddhist priest, also from Boulder, claimed she knew Bruce and said his death was “an act of compassion”.
“This guy was my friend. He meditated with our sangha [Buddhist community],” Dr K Kritee wrote on Twitter. “This act is not suicide. This is a deeply fearless act of compassion to bring attention to climate crisis. We are piecing together info but he had been planning it for at least one year.”
The incident happened at around 6.30pm on the plaza outside the court building.
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Bruce was airlifted to hospital but later died from his injuries.
Video captured outside the Supreme Court building on Friday showed police responding to the area as screams of agony were heard.
“At approximately 6.30pm, an individual went on to the plaza in front of the Supreme Court building and set themselves on fire," a court spokesperson told News Nation.
Supreme Court Police, US Capitol Police, and officers with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia were at the scene, officials said.
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Video showed the helicopter landing next to the building after US Capitol Police warned of a medical emergency near the Capitol.
Two roads remained blocked off after the victim was airlifted from the area.
Police said the incident was "not a public safety issue."
Supreme Court Police said that they were still investigating the man’s motive.
No one else was injured in the incident.
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The investigation came as an urgent manhunt was already underway in Washington, DC following a shooting near a school that left four people hurt on Friday afternoon.
A person of interest was named in the shooting as officers worked to reunite students with their families.
You’re not alone
SUICIDE is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leading Causes of Death Report from 2018.
There were "more than two and half times as many suicides" in the US than there were homicides, according to the report.
For people ages 10 and 34, suicide was the "second leading cause of death" and the fourth for individuals ages 35 to 54.
Suicide is a vital health concern in the U.S. It affects all genders, races and ages.
This is why The-Sun.com launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The campaign calls on readers to discuss their mental health issues with their family, friends and health professionals. We can all pitch in to help out others who may be suffering and help save lives.
If you are struggling to cope, you are not alone. There are many free and confidential programs in the US aimed to help those who are struggling with their mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health problems, these organizations are here to provide support:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, 1-800-273-TALK
- Crisis Text Line, www.crisistextline.org, Text HOME to 741741
- Veterans Crisis Hotline, www.veteranscrisisline.net, 1-800-273-8255
- Trevor Project, www.thetrevorproject.org, 1-866-488-7386
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