Veteran who set himself on fire outside Georgia Capitol has died, authorities say

The U.S. Air Force veteran who set himself on fire outside the Georgia State Capitol last week died Monday, officials with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday.

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John Michael Watts, 58, was brought to the Grady Memorial Hospital on June 26 with burns over 85 to 90 percent of his body, the Georgia State Patrol said at the time.

Disgruntled with the Department of Veteran Affairs, authorities said he strapped himself with a homemade incendiary device and fireworks, doused himself in a flammable liquid and set himself on fire in protest.

Explore>> Veteran protesting VA sets himself on fire at Georgia Capitol

He had no known address.

About the Author

Zachary Hansen, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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