Air Force engineer Aaron Bushnell dies in hospital after setting himself on fire outside DC Israeli Embassy screaming 'Free Palestine!'

An Air Force officer who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in DC in protest against the war in Gaza has died in the hospital

22:23 26/02/2024

Aaron Bushnell, 25, was an 'aspiring engineer' and seeking to 'transition out of the military.' The US Air Force confirmed on Monday that he succumbed to his injuries overnight.

He was hospitalized in critical condition on Sunday after he doused himself in accelerant and struck a lighter, causing his body to become consumed by flames. DC Fire and EMS said he sustained 'life-threatening injuries'.

Horrific video of the incident showed Bushnell explaining the reasons for his 'extreme act of protest' while he walked up to the building and screamed 'Free Palestine' - as his body went up in flames. 

The fire burned for more than a minute before police and security staff managed to extinguish it.

Aaron Bushnell was a DevOps engineer based in San Antonio, Texas, according to his LinkedIn

The airman declared he would 'no longer be complicit in genocide' as he set himself alight and livestreamed the horrific scene before being taken to hospital in a critical condition

The active-duty airman was a DevOps engineer based in San Antonio, Texas, according to his LinkedIn profile. He touted himself having 'very good communication skills' and 'thriving in team environments'. 

Bushnell was pursuing his bachelor's degree in computer software engineering and is CompTIA Security+ certified, a credential that indicates he has the baseline skills to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career.

He had apparent links to at least two anarchist groups, Burning River Anarchist Collective and Mutual Aid Street Solidarity - both of which are based in Ohio. Bushnell followed the groups on Facebook. 

He was seemingly raised in a devout Christian family and even worked for Paraclete Press, a Christian book and music publisher based in Massachusetts where his mother still works, according to the company's website. His father owns a construction company.

During his youth, Bushnell also performed in a local indoor marching band called Spirit Winter Percussion.

Video shows how Bushnell approached the heavily-guarded Israeli embassy on DC's International Drive just before 1pm on Sunday. He was in combat uniform and speaking into a camera on a selfie-stick.

'My name is Aaron Bushnell,' he told the camera, 'I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force and I will no longer be complicit in genocide.

'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.'

For more than 30 seconds he walked on silently, passing the neighboring Chinese embassy and holding an open flask of liquid in his left hand.

As he reached the embassy, he placed the camera on the ground and marched to the gate, showering himself in the fluid before placing his service cap on his head.

Tossing the flask away, Bushnell struggled to ignite his lighter as a voice is heard challenging him. 

His camera recorded an unseen man asking 'Hi sir, can I help you?' as he approached the embassy gates.

Twelve seconds later the voice is heard asking again 'Can I help you, sir?' before Bushnell struck a lighter and ignited the fluid.

Dailymail.com has chosen not to show the subsequent footage which recorded Bushnell being consumed by flames for more than a minute before police and security staff managed to extinguish them. 

A friend described Bushnell as 'the kindest, gentlest, silliest little kid in the Air Force'

The Secret Service said it received a report that an individual 'was experiencing a possible medical/mental health emergency' outside the Israeli embassy

The video shows the flames spreading all over his body, engulfing his head as he continues to scream 'Free Palestine', his voice cracking in agony as the flames intensify. He managed to stand for almost a minute before falling to the ground. 

Sirens were already wailing in the background and a man in plain clothes pointed a pistol at him as others doused him with fire extinguishers.

He was taken to hospital by DC Fire and EMS with 'critical and life-threatening injuries'.

Sunday morning, before he headed to the embassy, Bushnell seemingly promoted his act of protest on Facebook, sharing a link to his LillyAnarKitty twitch account, where he live-streamed the demonstration. 

'Many of us like to ask ourselves, "What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?"' Bushnell wrote. 'The answer is, you're doing it. Right now.'

The video was only seen by a few dozen people on Twitch before it was removed by the platform, however it has since been viewed by over one million people on X. 

The airman was taken to the hospital by DC Fire and EMS with life-threatening injuries

Bushnell described himself on LinkedIn as an 'aspiring software engineer' with a 'passion for solving complex problems with code'.

Highlighting his educational and work experience in software development and Linux system administration, Bushnell said he was looking to 'transition out of the US Air Force into software engineering'.

He praised his military successes, claiming that he has been 'commended by senior leaders for my ability to explain complex technical matters'.

'Throughout my time in the military in both leadership and followership roles, as well as prior work experience in a variety of civilian roles, I have thrived in team environments and gained very good communication skills,' he said. 

Bushnell said he could bring those 'skills to the table in any role', but noted he was 'truly passionate about writing software 'and 'can't wait to help drive innovation in the civilian world'.

It is understood that the airman was pursuing his undergraduate degree in computer software engineering, however it is unclear where he was studying.

His biography states: 'I am currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering from Western Governor's University, and have taken several supplementary classes in software development outside of college.'