HARTFORD, Conn._Steven Ellam, the man police said slammed his car through the emergency room entrance of Middlesex Hospital and then set himself on fire amid a politically charged rant he captured on live video, was in critical condition Friday afternoon in the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital.
Police continued to investigate the incident involving the 27-year-old Middletown man. Authorities have yet to publicly point to what motivated his actions, but the FBI uncovered Ellam's Facebook video during the investigation.
The disturbingly graphic video lasts about two minutes and 30 seconds and opens with an apparently naked Ellam driving his car toward the hospital as he called out President Donald Trump, 1 percenters and several times referred to himself as Jesus Christ.
Ellam was severely burned after lighting himself on fire following the car crash. The video doesn't show Ellam actually lighting himself on fire but he can be heard yelling "save me" as flames fill the screen.
The video opens with Ellam saying "Donald Trump where are you? My name is Jesus Christ. I'm in Middletown, Connecticut."
As he drives toward the hospital Ellam says, "I've come to expose you as the anti-Christ, protecting the Illuminati, the one percent."
As Ellam is speaking, a radio is on in the background and cars can be seen passing him.
"The one percent have been trying to brainwash me to attack the police for I don't know how long," Ellam says in an eerily calm voice.
"I know that you are, you are their protector and I am going to attack one of your headquarters right now _ Middlesex Hospital. Death to the Illuminati, death to the world order, the world order is Jesus Christ."
Ellam then stops talking as he drives toward the hospital, he them abruptly turns the vehicle and crashes into the emergency room entrance.
After the crash Ellam is seen exiting the car and leaving the site line of the camera. But he can be heard yelling "death to the new world order" before flames erupt, filling the screen.
Ellam can be heard screaming as the flames intensify.
He then says "Jesus, Jesus" and "save me, save me" before it ends.
Ellam lives at 66 Milardo Lane, where federal, state and local authorities went to search for explosives and other evidence, officials said, as concerned neighbors looked on. Sources said no explosives were found at the house.
Authorities say Ellam has been on the radar since he was 14. Court records dating back to 2010 show at least four arrests for violence.
Twice, victims have told police they feared that Ellam would kill them. Once in 2013, records show he wrapped plastic bags around a woman's head while drunk and high on synthetic marijuana.
The woman told police that day in June 2013 that Ellam said to her: "you have sinned and now you have to repent, you are going to die." He then attacked her. While he choked her, she played dead, but Ellam said: "I know you're not dead yet."
In a 2012 attack, Ellam, who was drunk, wrapped his hands around his neck while saying: "I will (expletive) kill you. I will (expletive) kill you." His father told police that Ellam had threatened to kill him in the past and he was very fearful.
Ellam had feuded with his father in 2010 when confronted about drinking, records show. Ellam punched him in the head repeatedly before family members called 911.
His most recent arrest was in 2016 when authorities were called to a knife fight. The victim told police that Ellam punched him several times inside a home at Thomas Street and then kicked him when he went to the ground, records show.
A witness said Ellam had taken out a knife but the witness was able to get it away from him, arrest records show.
Since 2016, it appears he has had no run-ins with authorities. Those who knew him said they were shocked to learn he had done it.
Illiano's Ristorante owner Vinnie Scileppi said Ellam worked as a dish washer in the restaurant for about nine months and was a "model employee."
He was mostly quiet, but sometimes talked about opening a coffee shop and chatted with the other employees about music.
"He came in looking for a job and I said 'You're in the right place at the right time, I'm hiring,'" Scileppi said Friday. "He stayed late when he needed to, he asked for more hours often. I don't like to judge anyone. When he was here there was never a problem."
Similarly, Laura Conley, the owner of Sweet Harmony Bakery, described Ellam as an attentive employee.
"He actually was a good guy," Conley said. "What he did was criminal, but that's not the whole issue."
She said Ellam's mental health issues were well known, and believes state systems failed somehow.
"He did his work. He came in and he was a team player. We never had an issue," Conley said. "We knew who he was when we hired him. This kid clearly had a problem. If you knew he had a problem, he needed some assistance, and you let him out. There needs to be better awareness of what we need to keep our society safe and healthy."
Ellam unexpectedly quit his pizzeria job by text message on Wednesday.
"It was abrupt. He just said I can't work anymore and don't worry about my last paycheck," Scileppi said. "I saw no reason whatsoever."
