Messiah Beamon-Perry Obituary, Death: Pewaukee Lake drowning victim ID’d as Hamilton High student.
Messiah Beamon-Perry Obituary, Death – Authorities have identified the 17-year-old boy who tragically drowned in Pewaukee Lake in the early hours of June 29 as Messiah Beamon-Perry, a student in the Hamilton School District.
Emergency services responded to a 911 call at 12:07 a.m. reporting a possible drowning near the fishing pier on the 200 block of West Wisconsin Avenue. According to friends of Beamon-Perry, he had jumped into the lake and did not resurface. The Western Lakes Dive Team located his body in approximately 8 feet of water not long after the call.
Multiple agencies, including the Village of Pewaukee Police Department and Pewaukee Fire Department, worked alongside the dive team to interview witnesses and conduct the search. Based on initial findings, authorities have stated that the incident appears to be a tragic accident, and no foul play is suspected. Alcohol is not believed to have been involved.
Police Chief Timothy Heier emphasized that the teens were cooperative and remained at the scene to call for help. “There’s nothing suspicious at this time,” he said. “The victim and friends decided to go swimming off the fishing pier after park hours. Everybody stayed around and called 911. It’s just a terrible, tragic ending.”
An autopsy was completed on June 30 by the Waukesha County Medical Examiner, though the final report and death certificate were still pending a few days later.
The Hamilton School District also confirmed Beamon-Perry’s identity and released a statement in support of his family. “Messiah would have been a senior at Hamilton High School this fall,” the district shared. “His younger siblings attend Templeton Middle School and Marcy Elementary School.” The district urged families to talk with their children about the loss if appropriate, recognizing that the news could be emotionally difficult for students.
In their statement, school officials offered guidance to parents, recommending honest and simple language like “death” or “died” rather than vague terms. They encouraged families to listen to their children and be accepting of all emotions, noting that grief can look different for each individual.
Some residents on social media speculated whether aquatic weeds near the shoreline might have contributed to the drowning. However, Chief Heier said the investigation had not found any such evidence at this point.
This incident marks the second fatal accident on Pewaukee Lake in 2025. In January, a 61-year-old man died after his utility vehicle broke through ice on the lake, prompting a community-wide safety campaign about the dangers of winter ice conditions.
Beamon-Perry’s death has deeply impacted the local community and school district, prompting grief counseling resources and messages of support for his family. Community members are mourning the loss of a young life taken too soon in what authorities describe as a heartbreaking accident.
