Man who died as he cut copper wire is identified

A man who apparently died by electrocution in downtown Honolulu while cutting copper wiring has been identified.

Peter Ishiki, 48, of Honolulu died Sunday, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office.

Ishiki was convicted of petty thefts in 2013, at least one involving an electrical contracting business, according to First Circuit Court documents.

He pleaded no contest to three thefts in the fourth degree, including two in June and one in May 2013, and was sentenced to four days in jail.

In July 2015, he was convicted of second-degree trespassing involving fenced premises and sentenced to two days in jail; the court cost was waived due to his inability to pay, court records show.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said it was still looking at the cause of death.

He was pronounced dead at 12:27 p.m. at the scene.

Honolulu police have classified the incident as an unattended death and said there were no signs of foul play.

The incident occurred between 11 a.m. and noon Sunday at the Queen Emma Building, 1270 Queen Emma St., said Deborah Agles, a neighbor who lives next door in Capitol Place.

Agles said she was told by a homeless man who frequents the area that another homeless man broke into the building, “went to the main breaker box and it was hot,” was electrocuted and died.