Authorities say Russell Houston, 34, died after a pole snapped and live wires fell on Greenhill Place.
JACKSON, Miss. — Jackson Police on Wednesday identified the man killed in a fiery electrocution during a suspected copper theft last week as Russell Houston, 34. The incident happened Friday afternoon on Greenhill Place near Medical Plaza, where a wooden utility pole broke as he climbed it, police said.
Investigators said they confirmed Houston’s identity through an ankle monitor found on his leg and contacted his family after the coroner’s office completed initial notifications. Fire officials said they arrived around 4:07 p.m. to find downed lines and called the power company to shut off electricity before approaching. The case underscores ongoing concerns about copper theft in Jackson, where police have reported multiple attempts that endanger residents and first responders.
According to police, Houston fell when the pole snapped and became entangled in live electrical wiring. Witnesses reported smoke and a brief flare as the lines touched the ground. Division Fire Chief Charles Felton said crews waited for confirmation that power was cut before moving in. Hinds County coroner officials pronounced Houston dead at the scene, noting severe electrical burns and a broken leg consistent with a fall. Detective Tommie Brown called the incident “one of the most senseless deaths” he has seen, adding that the risk from energized lines is widely known.
Officials initially misidentified the victim’s gender because he was dressed in women’s clothing and was found facedown under the wires, police said. Detectives later determined he was likely targeting copper from nearby phone or utility lines. Coroner-Elect Jeramiah Howard said the injuries indicate both a fall and electrocution. Police also documented the ankle monitor for the case file and said they are reviewing why Houston was under electronic monitoring at the time; they did not release details on any court matters tied to the device.
City records show first responders handled another fatal electrocution in July within a block of Friday’s scene, a pattern that investigators say heightens concern about unsecured or tampered utility infrastructure. In Friday’s incident, the fire department coordinated with the utility to de-energize the area and used standard hot-zone protocols while officers canvassed for surveillance video. Detectives are building a timeline from 4 p.m. onward and have requested logs from the utility on when service was cut.
Police said the death will be documented as an unattended death with investigative supplements from the fire department, coroner’s office and the utility’s field crew. No arrests are expected. An autopsy and toxicology are pending, and officials said results will be routed to the district attorney as routine. A written summary from Jackson Police is expected after the coroner’s report, which will close the identification phase and add cause-and-manner findings to the file.
Neighbors said the street was blocked for hours as workers cleared the site and resecured the pole location. A resident who asked not to be named said she heard “a crack and a flash” and saw smoke drifting across the road. Brown said the department hopes the conclusion of the case will discourage similar attempts, noting that crews and bystanders were kept at a distance until the lines were safe.
As of Thursday, officials said the investigation remains open while reports are finalized. The next milestone is the release of autopsy findings and the police incident summary with the official cause and manner of death.
Author note: Last updated December 11, 2025.