Watch CBS News

Woman sets herself on fire in U.S. Rep. Danny Davis' office in Chicago

CHICAGO -- Police say a woman walked into U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ office on Chicago’s West Side, drank out of a bottle of hand sanitizer, poured the sanitizer over herself and set herself on fire with a lighter.

Authorities haven’t identified the woman who was taken to a hospital in serious condition with burns. Police say her condition has stabilized.

Davis wasn’t in the office at the time.

A news release from Davis’ office says the woman came in around 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Davis says he doesn’t know why. He says the woman only spoke with office staff briefly before picking up the hand sanitizer. Staff responded with a fire extinguisher, but the woman ran out while still on fire.

Davis is a Democrat who was first elected in 1996.

According to CBS Chicago, Davis served as alderman of Chicago’s 29th Ward from 1979 to 1990 and as a Cook County commissioner from 1990 to 1997, before going to Congress.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.