Tragedy in Old Harbour, as teenage student found dead in apparent suicide

The deceased has been identified as Joshuan Williams, a student of Camperdown High School, of Apple Drive, in the St. Catherine, a few miles east of Old Harbour.

According to a preliminary police report, the incident occurred between 11:30 p.m. and 12:04 a.m. on September 4, 2026, when Williams’ lifeless body was discovered hanging from a tree at the rear of his family home.

Information indicate that the teenager’s mother, 44-year-old teacher Tameka Lewis, left the residence at approximately 10:00 a.m. to attend a wake in St. Andrew. She left Joshuan at home with his younger and older brothers.

According to the investigation, Joshuan was seen having a meal earlier in the day. Sometime later, his younger brother reportedly witnessed him leaving the house with a piece of rope that he had pulled down from the living room.

After some time passed and Joshuan did not return, the younger brother went to check on him and made the grim discovery of his sibling hanging from a tree at the back of the property. The younger brother rushed inside to alert the older brother, who was in his room at the time. The older sibling immediately contacted their mother.

Upon the arrival of law enforcement, the body of the now-deceased was observed clad in a red and white pants and a black ski mask.

The police scene of crime unit was contacted and processed the area. The body was subsequently removed by Morgan’s Funeral Home.

The police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy. And perhaps there may be some clues as to what was happening in Joshua’s mind, In his last social media post provide any. A few hours before he was found dead, Joshua shared on his Instagram page a quote from a handle by the name Gavin Dorman, 10, which reads “Honestly, its fine. I have a feeling I wasn’t going to do much with my life anyway.”

Asked if the deceased was experiencing any form of trauma, the police say “investigations are ongoing” in response. 

The tragic incident comes on the heels of a 2026 Global School-based Student Health Survey which revealed an increase in suicidal thoughts and actions  among Jamaican students.

This incident has sent shockwaves through the local school community and the wider Bushy Park area, leaving a family devastated and a community searching for answers.