- The Washington Times - Tuesday, April 2, 2013

A man accidentally hung himself in what police said was an attempt to vandalize the exterior of an 18-story office building in Sacramento, Calif. — the second graffiti-related death in the city in the past three weeks.

Authorities said the man was discovered Monday morning hanging from the rope he used to climb down the high-rise building after gaining access to the building’s roof the previous day. A can of spray paint and a tool for etching glass were recovered from the scene.

He died accidentally of asphyxiation, authorities said. His name is not being released until his relatives are notified.

The incident comes on the heels of the death of another suspected graffiti artist, Andre Petkov, 22, who was found in the road after falling from an Interstate 80 overpass.

Police found spray paint and other tools near his body, according to United Press International.

Petkov, a convicted vandal with several arrests, was a member of the Sacramento Graffiti Killers crew, the Sacramento Bee reported.

The two deaths were unrelated, police said.

This article is based in part on wire service reports.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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