A Clarion County man died yesterday, a day after he suffered severe burns from setting himself on fire over a rift with a former girlfriend, state police said.

Troopers confronted the man, identified as Levi Shawn Mohney, inside the mobile home of his former girlfriend, Parry Rae Ferris, 34, of Pine Street Extension in Strattanville. Troopers said he was holding a soft drink bottle containing flammable liquid in one hand and a cigarette lighter in the other.

Three troopers warned Mr. Mohney that if he did not surrender they would zap him with a Taser, said state police Maj. Terry Seilhamer.

The police commander said the suspect responded, "If you tase me, I'm going to set myself on fire."

The troopers launched a Taser charge, and the suspect ignited himself, Maj. Seilhamer said.

Police were called to the residence three times Wednesday for reports of burglaries. The suspect initially stole a television from his ex-girlfriend's trailer.

He returned later and accosted Ms. Ferris, striking her before he stole several more items, police said.

Ms. Ferris again summoned police, but Mr. Mohney fled before troopers arrived, and Ms. Ferris took their advice an left the residence until her ex-boyfriend could be apprehended.

State police called in a helicopter during their search for the suspect, along with police from New Bethlehem and Rimersburg. At one point, he was spotted in a remote area of Porter Township, but he avoided capture, Maj. Seilhamer said

While Ms. Ferris was away, neighbors called to report Mr. Mohney had returned and, again, broken into the trailer around 7:45 p.m.

Troopers found him inside the residence, refusing to come out. They forced their way inside for a face-to-face standoff.

When Mr. Mohney set himself on fire, the flames began to spread in that room, and he bolted past the troopers and ran outside.

He made it some distance before he fell, or was knocked to the ground, where the troopers rolled him around until the fire went out.

Police extinguished the flames in the trailer.

Mr. Mohney was taken to the Birmingham Trauma and Burn Center at UPMC Mercy, where he died yesterday, the Allegheny County medical examiner said.

Maj. Seilhamer said state police still are investigating to confirm that Mr. Mohney started the fire with his lighter, and that it was not caused by the troopers' use of the Taser.