Metro

Person sets fire to papers inside NYC courthouse, injures 17 as judge in Trump fraud trial forced to evacuate

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Published Dec. 13, 2023, 9:48 p.m. ET

An apparent arsonist started a small fire Wednesday inside Manhattan Supreme Court four hours after testimony wrapped up in former President Donald Trump’s $250 million civil fraud case.

Three floors were evacuated and more than a dozen court officers suffered minor injuries after the suspect set papers on fire inside the fourth floor of the courthouse and then discharged a fire extinguisher to put out the flames at around 4:15 p.m., court spokesperson Al Baker said.

The judge at the head of Trump’s closely-watched trial, Arthur Engoron, was among those forced to flee the building, Baker said.

Trump was not inside the courthouse at the time of the fire.

The FDNY responded to the scene after receiving a report of a “suspicious odor,” likely caused by the fumes of the fire extinguisher, according to a spokesperson for the department.

An ambulance with flashing red lights is parked outside the NY State Supreme Court house in lower Manhattan, casting the steps up to the pillared building in red
The suspect set papers on fire inside the fourth floor of the state Supreme Court Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Robert Mecea
A woman is helped into an ambulance by FDNY EMTs.
The apparent arsonist then discharged a fire extinguisher to put out the flames but the chemical fumes from the extinguisher caused three floors to be evacuated. Robert Mecea

In total, 17 people suffered minor injuries and two of those — a sergeant and a court officer — were taken to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital for observation, while the other 15 refused medical attention at the scene, according to Baker and the FDNY.

All of the wounded were court officers, Baker said.

Donald Trump in a suit and long red tie walks through a marbled hall in NY Supreme Court with several suit-wearing men behind him.
Testimony in the Donald Trump civil fraud trial had wrapped up one floor below hours earlier. Trump was not in the building at the time of the fire. Gabriella Bass

Some of the injured were coughing due to the chemicals released by the fire extinguisher, police said.

Paris Nesbitt, 38, was arrested and charged with attempted arson and reckless endangerment.

At his Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment Thursday, Judge Pamela Goldsmith ordered Nesbitt held on $50,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond at the request of prosecutors.

He’s due back in court Tuesday.

“Our state court officers responded fast to address the conditions and take the individual into custody without incident. They instilled calm and helped oversee a safe and orderly evacuation – indispensable public service in a trying moment,” Baker said in a statement Thursday. “Though many officers suffered physically during their work, none thankfully were seriously injured.”

Additional reporting by Larry Celona