Messiah Beamon-Perry dies in fatal Pewaukee drowning
Fatal Pewaukee drowning death of Messiah Beamon-Perry
The authorities have officially identified the 17-year-old male who tragically drowned while diving into Pewaukee Lake on the early morning of June 29. Messiah Beamon-Perry, an enrolled student at the Hamilton School District, was located deceased in water reaching 8 feet in depth by the Western Lakes Dive Team shortly after emergency services received a 911 call at 12:07 a.m. According to investigators, Beamon-Perry’s companions informed the police that he had entered the water near the lake’s fishing pier, situated on Wisconsin Avenue, and did not reappear at the surface. A coordinated effort involving Village of Pewaukee police, the local fire department, and the dive team was deployed to converse with the victim’s associates and facilitate the search for Beamon-Perry.
At this preliminary stage, the ongoing investigation has yielded no evidence indicating any suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. Village Police Chief Timothy Heier remarked on June 30th during a telephone conversation that, “Presently, there is no cause for suspicion. The individual and his friends elected to swim from the fishing pier following the conclusion of the park’s operating hours. All involved parties are cooperative and remained present, promptly dialing 911. The absence of any issues stems from people entering a public park area for swimming activities, which resulted in this profoundly tragic and unfortunate outcome.” The Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s office finalized the autopsy for June 30th, with the release of a comprehensive report and the issuance of a death certificate anticipated to occur approximately five days later.
The Hamilton School District proactively released Beamon-Perry’s identity alongside a statement expressing the family’s deep roots within the local educational institutions and offering guidance to parents. The district reported, “Messiah was scheduled to be a senior student at Hamilton High School for the upcoming academic year. His younger brothers and sisters are currently attending Templeton Middle School and Marcy Elementary School. Adhering to the preferences of Messiah’s family, we are disclosing this information today. We advise members of the community to consider discussing these developments with their children, provided it feels suitable and appropriate.” School officials conceded that this topic might provoke “a challenging discussion” and recommended parents to employ straightforward communication, utilizing unambiguous terms like “death” or “died,” and to refrain from using indirect or evasive language. The district’s advisory further stated, “Maintain active listening, acknowledge emotional responses, and demonstrate nonjudgmental support. It is typical for a range of emotions to surface. Approach each child’s reaction with sensitivity, recognizing that students may express their grief and process the loss in diverse ways, and these expressions will naturally evolve throughout the mourning period.”
Some individuals commenting on the Facebook page for the Pewaukee Police Department voiced curiosity regarding whether submerged aquatic plants along the shoreline adjacent to the pier might have contributed to the drowning incident. However, Chief Heier clarified that the initial assessment provided by investigators indicated no such concerns or connections. This unfortunate event marks the second fatality associated with Pewaukee Lake this year, following a January 25 occurrence where a 61-year-old man’s untimely demise occurred after his all-terrain vehicle compromised the integrity of the ice on the lake. That incident subsequently stimulated the community to initiate a public safety campaign, emphasizing the inherent risks linked with engaging in recreational activities on the lake during winter months, particularly those involving ice.
