West Point man dies after fall from balcony

By Sara Pauff - spauff@ledger-enquirer.com --

Auburn police have released the name of a 29-year-old who fell off an apartment balcony early Sunday morning and died.

Russell W. Patterson, of West Point, Ga., died from a severe head injury after he fell from a second story balcony in an apartment complex on East Thatch Avenue at approximately 3 a.m.

Patterson was transported by ambulance to the East Alabama Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:45 a.m.

Police said Patterson was visiting a friend in the apartment.

The cause of the fall is under investigation by police, Lee County Coroner's Office and Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

An autopsy is scheduled and no foul play is suspected.