Juvenile Electrocuted After Climbing Fence Into Power Grid

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A juvenile who jumped a fence into an electrical grid was electrocuted Monday evening.

City of Miami firefighters and police responded to a call near NW 47th Ave. and 4th St. that someone had jumped a fence into an electrical grid.

Jesus Meneses was trying to retrieve a basketball when he jumped the fence into the power grid.  He had been playing at Kinloch Park with friends.

Friends say they didnt notice Meneses missing until they heard a loud noise and saw flashing lights.

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"It looked like fireworks," said Andy Gonzalez, Meneses' friend. "We all ran up to the fence to look and he was there laying down and his body was smoking and then his clothes got on fire."

Kids in the neighborhood say that this isn't the first time someone has jumped into the grid to retrieve a basketball.

Firefighters said they could not make their way to the transformer where the juvenile was because the gate was locked. However, City of Miami police did confirm the victim was dead from electrocution.

The firefighters were waiting for FPL to arrive and open the gate to retrieve the body safely.

FPL released the following statement on Monday night: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. FPL personnel are on the scene cooperating with local law enforcement who are working to determine what happened."

According to FPL, 1,100 customers were affected due to the incident but all power had been restored by 8 p.m.

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