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A burglar was killed July 12, 2016 at this Birmingham home on Lewisburg Road shortly after he was hit by a police stun gun.

(Jonece Dunigan/jdunigan@al.com)

A burglary suspect died tonight after he was struck by a Birmingham police stun gun.

The incident began shortly after 3:30 p.m. at a home in the 5200 block of Lewisburg Road. The man, an adult white male, was taken to St. Vincent's South, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards gave this account of what happened: Birmingham Officers responded to a burglary in progress in the 5200 block of Lewisburg Road about 3:35 p.m. When they arrived, the officers met the homeowner who said he heard glass breakage and someone yelling and growling in his basement.

Additional officers arrived and told the homeowner to go next door for his safety. As officers walked around the house, they observed several windows broken and they entered the home. Once inside, they saw a white male wearing only shorts and wrapped up in material that looked like the air conditioner duct work.

"Officers immediately gave the suspect verbal commands but he did not comply,'' Edwards said. "Officers Tased the suspect several times but suspect continued to resist. Officers closed in on the suspect and handcuffed him."

The suspect was taken outside to await medics. "During the entire incident, the suspect acted extremely irritated and growled at officers,'' Edwards said.

The suspect was transported to St. Vincent's South where he was later pronounced dead by the medical staff. The State Bureau of Investigation was notified and responded to the scene. Crime scene investigators also arrived at the home a short time later to process the scene.

The residents sat on the porch during the investigation but declined to comment.

There have been multiple deaths following Taser use in Jefferson County, in Alabama and beyond over the past decade. Here is a look at just a few of them.

Earlier this year - On February 3 - a mentally-ill patient at Athens-Limestone Hospital was subdued with a stun gun and died five days later. Randy Joe Nelson was 49. Police said two police sergeants responded that day to the hospital, where staff reported that Nelson was struggling as they attempted to give him medication to calm him down. When he continued struggling and throwing things at the officers, one officer used a stun gun on him. Later in February, Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson released the nine-minute video.

In July 2015, Anthony Ware, 35, died after fleeing from police. An anonymous caller told police that Ware, who was wanted for previously eluding arrest, was sitting on a porch and armed with a pistol. When officers responded, Ware fled the scene and went into a densely wooded area, where he was eventually found and pepper sprayed. After some time, he stopped breathing, and despite rigorous CPR from TPD officers and emergency transport to DCH Regional Medical Center in Northport, Ware died. An autopsy found Ware had recently used cocaine, methamphetamine and alcohol, and died of drug toxicity.

In 2014, A Jefferson County jail inmate died after a sheriff's deputy used a Taser on him when he became combative with officers. Ricky Deangelo Hinkle, 47, of Pleasant Grove fell to the floor and was unresponsive after the deputy used the Taser on him. Efforts were unsuccessful by the jail's on-duty medical personnel and paramedics to revive him. Hinkle was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Hinkle had been an inmate at the jail for a parole violation on a previous assault charge. Prior to his death, he had been separated Hinkle from other inmates at about 11:30 a.m. when he threatened other inmates and created a disruption during the lunchtime meal service.

On June 14, 2010, 17-year-old William Owens died after being struck with a Taser. He was struck by a Homewood police officer's Taser after lawmen caught him and three of his cousins, including a 12-year-old, allegedly breaking into cars at Herzing University just before 1 a.m. Police said Owens was struck with the stun gun after the teen repeatedly resisted arrest. Two of the teens with Owens were charged with breaking and entering. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office said Owens suffered from cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart. The pre-existing condition, combined with the stress of the events including the shock of the stun gun, all worked together to end in his death, officials said at the time. Owens was 6 feet tall and weighed 239 pounds, according to the report. A drug screen showed he had marijuana in his system.

AL.com reporter Jonece Starr Dunigan contributed to this report.