Victim in self-immolation recalled as 'sweet guy'

A 64-year-old Mount Laurel man who, according to police, died after he set himself on fire over the weekend on the National Mall in Washington suffered from mental illness, his family said Monday night through its attorney.

John Constantino's "death was not a political act or statement, but the result of his long battle with mental illness," his family said in the statement, released by Jeffrey Cox, a lawyer in Vienna, Va. The statement did not elaborate.

Constantino poured gasoline over his body and set himself ablaze Friday at Seventh Street and Madison Drive N.W., the Metropolitan Police Department said.

In the statement, his family recognized the "heroism of the paramedics and bystanders who attempted to save John." Constantino suffered burns so severe that authorities had to use DNA and dental records to identify him, the Associated Press reported.

Metropolitan police released his identity Monday night.

In an interview, Cox said Constantino had family in the Washington area and may have been visiting them. He did not have more biographical details on Constantino. He said the family was "in deep mourning."

The Constantino family lives in a two-story townhouse in the Laurel Creek neighborhood.

No one answered the door Tuesday. On the doorknob was a delivery reminder from Edible Arrangements left about noon on Sunday.

Most neighbors questioned Tuesday either did not know Constantino or said they knew him just enough to wave to him.

"He was a nice neighbor, a sweet guy, kind, gentle person," said Andrew Douglas, who resides a couple of units over.

Douglas said the Constantinos had three adult children, two sons and one daughter, and moved from New York more than 20 years ago.

In their statement, the Constantino family said it was "shocked and deeply saddened by this loss" and asked for privacy. The statement said he was "a loving father and husband."