Police: Transient Set Himself On Fire In Bathroom Of Van Nuys Starbucks
VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — A man set himself on fire Tuesday in the restroom of a Starbucks in Van Nuys in an apparent attempt to commit suicide, authorities said.
Firefighters went to a Starbucks, 15355 W. Sherman Way, at 8:18 a.m. and found the fire was out when they arrived, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said.
The preliminary investigation found that a man in his 60s, possibly a transient, went into the bathroom of the coffee shop and set himself on fire, Los Angeles police Officer Drake Madison said. Outside the bathroom, bystanders heard an explosive sound and saw the man staggering from the bathroom engulfed in flames, Scott said.
The man collapsed near the front entrance, and customers assisted in putting out the fire, Scott said.
The burns appear to be self-inflicted and cover 90 percent of his body, he said.
The man was taken to a hospital in extremely critical condition, Madison said.
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