Azzarello appeared to have reached out to several news outlets beforehand to announce the planned self-immolation.

Writing on Substack, he described himself as an “investigative researcher” and rambled about conspiracy theories.

He referred to cryptocurrency as a Ponzi scheme that was engineered to bring about a worldwide coup and described “The Simpsons” as propaganda for the mafia.

Azzarrello worked as operations director for the congressional campaign of U.S. Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., for about four months in 2014, a representative for the congressman’s office confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.

“I recall that Max worked on one of my early campaigns,” Bera said in a brief statement. “This is tragic news and my thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”

A LinkedIn profile associated with a Max Azzarello shows he held a similar position in 2013 working on a political campaign for Tom Suozzi, who recently won a special election for a U.S. House seat in New York. Representatives for Suozzi’s offices did not immediately return calls to confirm Azzarello’s employment.

Online records also show Azzarello worked for Strong Towns, a nonprofit media advocacy group. His employment history, however, appeared to have been removed from the website Friday afternoon.

Police said his family appeared unaware that he had traveled to New York. Reached by phone, his father hung up on a reporter from the L.A. Times.

On his Instagram account just minutes before the incident, Azzarello posted a story with the words, “I love you” written repeatedly.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said police have identified a vehicle that Azzarello may have used but are still working to locate it.

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(Los Angeles Times staff writer Noah Goldberg contributed to this report.)

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