Elderly adult sets himself on fire in the middle of an eviction
The man and the family pet died in the fire and it is still unclear why it did so.
Two police officers showed up at the home of 82-year-old Anthony Goulding last Monday in Oklahoma to serve an eviction order, but things took a devastating turn when Goulding ran into a room with a gallon full of gasoline that started to pour everywhere.
Although officers rushed to arrest him, Goulding set himself on fire with a lighter, engulfing the apartment in flames almost immediately. The man also threw the bucket of gasoline at the sheriff's deputy, putting her at risk.
The police intervention was recorded on the officers' body cameras and shows the moment in which the older adult decided to set fire to himself and his house, while the authorities were trying to apply an eviction order.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff revealed that for weeks one of the deputies had been working with Anthony and his wife to secure a place for them to stay after the eviction.
According to police, the couple had agreed to move to a long-term facility, and an Uber was even waiting for them outside while officers managed to escort his wife, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, out.
The police managed to get the wife out, and although one of the officers tried to return to the house to save Anthony, it was too late. The man and the family pet died in the fire and it is still unclear why it did so.
One of the officers suffered minor burns, but was discharged.