Friends, Family Remember Electrocuted Teen
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Friends stopped by a makeshift memorial in Miami where a teenager was electrocuted after he jumped a fence into an electrical grid.
They paid tribute to Jesus Meneses. Someone even left a skateboard at the memorial which was one of his passions.
"He was really chill. He loved skating. He was really outgoing. He was really funny," said Meneses' friend Victoria Pupo.
Meneses was playing basketball at Kinloch Park located at NW 47th Avenue and 4th Terrace Monday evening when he jumped the fence of an FPL substation to retrieve a basketball.
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"They told him come back ...what are you doing, cuz he got one ball. And he said, 'no I'm going to get all the balls that are in there.' And that's when he got shocked," said family friend Roger Perez.
Friends say they didn't notice Meneses missing until they heard a loud noise and saw flashing lights.
"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."
Another woman at the park, celebrating her birthday, told a different version of events. Naillil Martin said other boy's egged on Jesus, urging him to go after the basketball.
"We told him not to go, but they dared him," Martin said.
Jesus' mother, Mercedes Meneses said she spoke to her son about 10 minutes before getting a phone call informing her Jesus was dead.
"He was a good child, very obedient. I lived for him," Merecedes Meneses said about her son Jesus.
Kids in the neighborhood said that this isn't the first time someone has jumped into the grid to retrieve a basketball.
"I've seen people jump it all the time for a basketball," said Joshue Hernandez, who started a petition to increase safety measures at the park with regards to the power grid next door. "Maybe they can make the fence higher so that balls won't be able to get over it."
Perez said he used to it when he was younger.
"I was young, you don't think. That's what happens," said Perez.
Firefighters had to wait for FPL to arrive and open the gate to retrieve his body safely because the grid was still energized.
Meantime, some parents are concerned about the safety at the park.
"I'm very concerned and that's why I don't let my kids go to this park," said Parent Daisy Joya.
Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho tweeted this reaction Monday night: "The @MDCPS family unites in deep thought and prayer for the young Coral Gables student who dramatically lost his life at a community park."
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.
If you'd like to help with the Meneses family funeral expenses contact Neighbors 4 Neighbors at 305-597-4404.
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