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W. Va. Man Electrocuted After Shooting Down Power Line To Steal Copper

THURMOND, W.Va. (AP) - Police in Fayette County say a man was electrocuted when he picked up a live power line that he had shot down in order to steal copper from it.

Fayette County Sheriff Steve Kessler says the man's body was found Wednesday in Thurmond.

Kessler says the man and an accomplice planned to strip the line of its copper wiring to later sell as scrap metal.

Kessler says the man was killed instantly when he picked up the power line. His name wasn't released pending notification of relatives.

Media outlets report the accomplice was charged with an attempt to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit a felony and disruption of a public utility.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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