Trump protestor Max Azzarello's shocked former classmates reveal heartbreaking truth about what he was really like at college - before paranoia drove him to set himself on fire outside hush money trial

The former classmates of Max Azzarello have revealed what he was really like at college, before paranoia drove him to set himself on fire outside the Trump trial. 

Azzarello, 37, doused himself in an alcohol substance before taking a lighter to his clothes near Manhattan criminal court.

He was seen kneeling with his hands behind his head engulfed in flames as the world's media and horrified onlookers watched. He died on Friday evening.

The Florida native was a graduate from Rutgers University, where he received a master’s degree in city and regional planning in 2012.

Fellow classmates have now revealed that he would leave supportive Post-It notes for others and for a Frank Sinatra karaoke performance. 

The Florida native was a graduate from Rutgers University, where he received a master’s degree in city and regional planning in 2012

Maxwell Azzarello set himself on fire in an act of extreme political protest outside Donald Trump 's hush money trial on Friday

 Azzarello doused himself in an alcohol substance before taking a lighter to his clothes near Manhattan criminal court

Katie Brennan, a former classmate, told The New York Times: 'He was super curious about social justice and the way things 'could' be. He was creative and adventurous.'

An old high school friend Steven Waldman told the outlet that Azzarello was one of the smartest people he knew. 

Waldman said: 'He was a good friend and person and cared about the world.'

Last year he settled in St Augustine and lived in a modest apartment, according to the outlet. 

Larry Altman, the property manager, told the Times: 'He had political views that I would not consider mainstream. 

'He called our government and the world government a Ponzi scheme. If you met Max, he’d shake your hand, and you’d have a nice conversation. He'd treat you with respect.'

His oldest friends were left even more surprised by his sudden act, with Carol Waldman, the mom of his childhood friend, recalling: 'He was kind and a gentle soul.

'A real wonderful, terrific young guy. Who had his whole life ahead of him.' 

Things changed after the death of his mother, Elizabeth Azzarello, on April 6, 2022, almost two years to the day before his self-immolation. 

After the loss his friends in St Augustine said they saw a change, one that culminated with Azzarello secretly traveling to New York City at some point this year, without his family's knowledge.

Azzarello was pictured a day earlier outside the courthouse brandishing a conspiracy sign

'A real wonderful, terrific young guy,' one friend said of Azzarello, seen here with his mom , Elizabeth Azzarello, in Palm Beach in 2016. '[He] had his whole life ahead of him.' But things changed after the death of mom on April 6, 2022 - almost two years to the day before his act

'That was around the time when he became more outspoken,' Waldman said of this period, referring to the last eight or so months of 2022. 

'They were close, and they had a good relationship. He was heartbroken.' he recalled.

By the next year, Azzarello and his writings - after penning a beautifully worded memorial following his mother's death - were almost unrecognizable. 

'This extreme act of protest is to draw attention to an urgent and important discovery,' Azzarello wrote in part of his online manifesto, titled The Ponzi Papers. 

'We are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup.'

He added how this supposed regime 'is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup,' just months after a series of arrests in his home state for incidents that took place in August, including hurling a drink at a photo of Bill Clinton.

The alleged research investigator is seen smiling in an undated photo with the Democrat seen on his still-up LinkedIn, where he wrote, 'we have a secret fascist problem.'

On his LinkedIn profile, a younger Azzarello appears in a photo with Bill Clinton - a figure of fascination for him in recent years, posts on social media show. In an accompanying cation to his bio, the suspected conspiracy theorist writes, 'We've got a secret fascism problem'

A post published moments before the horrifying incident, reads: 'I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial.' 

The pamphlets found at the scene link to a Substack written by 'investigative researcher' Max Azzarello

Fliers spotted at the scene of the self-immolation shortly after it occurred. It has not been confirmed if they belong to the victim

In March 2023, he changed his profession on LinkedIn as 'Research Investigator,' self-employed, and in June reportedly tagged Brennan and others to make sure they had seen something he had written.

On Friday, he suddenly tossed a stack of pamphlets into the air that included links to his manifesto, seconds before suddenly setting himself ablaze.

After the self-immolation, cops descended on the area , after which he was brought to a nearby hospital’s burn unit. He died shortly before 11 pm.

In an article authored hours before he spewed  theories about the 'elites', COVID, and Clinton, who appeared to have become a source of fascination for Azzarello.

The post bore the startling succinct headline: 'I have set myself on fire outside of the Trump Trial', as other social media posts provided more insight into the college graduate's fragile state of mind.

DailyMail.com gained more insight after learning the activist just week ago completed a six month probation sentence - handed out following a string of incidents in Florida involving either disorderly conduct, destruction of property, and overall erratic, 'rambling' behavior.

DailyMail.com obtained criminal complaints for each, which all place within a matter of days in August.

In the first of three, cops wrote how Azzarello threw a glass of wine at a framed and autographed photograph of President Clinton displayed in the lobby of the Casa Monica Hotel in his hometown of Saint Augustine the evening of August 19, 2023,

Azarello, seen here in a August 24, 2023, mugshot, had recently completed 180 days probation for a string of incidents over disorderly conduct and destruction of property in Florida, where cops and members of the public cited his erratic and 'rambling' behavior

Azzarello was arrested several time last year in the Sunshine State for breach of the peace

The tragedy unfolded while former president Trump (pictured on Friday morning) was inside the courthouse 

Witnesses described the incident as a 'political protest' although it was not clear what side he was on

An accompanying tagline added that the pamphlet was 'a brief guide to[the school's] most criminal secrets.'

Reporters with the Times, meanwhile, confirmed the suspect was holding a sign on Wednesday critical of the school at Washington Square Park Wednesday, before moving on Thursday to the park where the incident occurred. A link to his Ponzi Papers Substack was provided.

On Wednesday, he also posted an Instagram highlight saying he would be 'spending the week at Washington Square Park airing out all of NYU's dirty laundry', a day before a final Instagram story just minutes before the blaze. 

'I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you,' it read. 

At 1:37 pm, law enforcement responded to calls reporting the fire, before rushing Azzarello to a city hospital where he is said to be in critical condition. 

The New York Police Department said an investigation is ongoing, as other recent social media posts show how Azzarello recently praised 'martyrs' like the former U.S. military member who also lit himself on fire, but died during protest.