David Franklin Smith ID’d As Man Who Fatally Lit Self On Fire At Des Moines Public Library

DES MOINES, IA. (THECOUNT) — David Franklin Smith has been identified as the Iowa man who set himself on fire Tuesday at the Des Moines Public Library. Smith later died from burn injuries.

Smith, 36, passed away around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday night at University of Iowa Hospitals’ Burn Unit in Iowa City, according to the Des Moines Police Department.

The victim had been in Des Moines for about two weeks and police say his last known address prior to coming to Iowa was in Anchorage, Alaska.

Des Moines police and fire personnel were called to the library at 1000 Grand Avenue just before 2:00 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a person injured in a fire. When crews arrived they found Smith suffering from serious and extensive burn injuries. He was transported to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines and later transferred to Iowa City by air ambulance, reports WHOTV.

Police say their initial investigation indicates Smith intentionally poured a flammable liquid on himself and then ignited the fire inside an enclosed hallway outside of the library’s interior.

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Geo quick facts: Des Moines is the capital city of Iowa. The gold-domed Iowa State Capitol building is among the 19th- and early-20th-century landmarks of the East Village area. The Des Moines Art Center is noted for its contemporary collections and Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Local produce and live music are draws at the Downtown Farmers’ Market. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden has outdoor plant displays and a geodesic dome.