The incident happened on Bedford Avenue in Sheepshead Bay.
Authorities say the 46-year-old man walked into the backyard and apparently lit himself on fire at around 5:35 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Firefighters responded to the 911 call of a fire and put out the blaze.
A witness told police that the man poured a flammable liquid on himself before the fire.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives determined they could not immediately locate his 77-year-old mother Patricia Ventre. Police are looking for her now.
There are no prior incidents of domestic violence or other calls to the home.
Residents were shocked to find out about the incident.
"It's a great neighborhood, nothing has ever happened here," one resident said.
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