Chicago police, firefighters, and paramedics responded about 7:30 p.m. Sunday to 18th Street and Ashland Avenue after a man attending the Mole de Mayo festival set a Metro PCS store and himself on fire.
S&B @ 1527 W. 18th St struck out. (1)transport green to UIC. for laceration. Overhaul in progress. pic.twitter.com/PDIazxRhhw
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) May 30, 2016
The man was in his underwear, wrapped in an American flag, and carrying a can of gasoline.
When 18th Street was shut down, vendors packed up to leave, but police officers and security guards attempted to prevent them from going past the intersection of 18th Street and Laflin Street.
People disobeyed the police and security officers and proceeded anyway through the intersection until they were forced to comply.
Two officers at the scene were injured, and transported to Stroger Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The burning man also was hospitalized and was being treated for his injuries.
The 7th Annual Mole de Mayo features competition among local chefs and restaurants, a craft market, live music, and a professional wrestling demonstration. The mole is Mexico’s national dish, a sauce made from sautéed onions and garlic combined with exotic spices and herbs, ground nuts (such as almonds, pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds) and chiles, simmered with dark bittersweet chocolate. Mole is also the generic name for a number of sauces used in Mexican cuisine.
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