Funeral services are planned in the new year for a man found dead in a Buddhist temple in Woodbridge, VA.
The Prince William Times says the man identified as Chi Nguonthe, 48, was seen by a monk setting himself on fire in what some believe to be a political statement.
The report identifies Nguonthe as a monk at the Cambodian temple. However, an obituary published by the temple itself, Watt Buddhacheya Mongkol, makes no reference of him as a monk.
The coroner has yet to release an official cause of death and people who knew Nguonthe say they do not know what motivated him to set himself on fire.
He is survived by his mom and family, including three sons and a granddaughter.
A remembrance will be held Wednesday at the temple from 9 to 1 p.m. followed by a funeral service at the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home in Fairfax, VA from 11 – 2 p.m.
Anyone contemplating suicide is urged to call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
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