AWFUL: 11-year-old girl hangs herself in shocking suicide, reasons unknown

It was a dark and gloomy day in Salt Pond Gardens, St Catherine,
yesterday where residents were still trying to come to terms with the
gruesome death of an 11-year-old child, whose body was found hanging
from a rope in the community on Wednesday.

The child has been identified as Shania McPherson, who was a student
of Ascot Primary.
Residents in the community said it is believed that the child
committed suicide. Police sources said they have received reports
about the incident but have declined to provide further details in
the case.

Yesterday, residents reacted in shock at the discovery.
"A the first time we ever hear about anything like this in a we
community; this has really come as a shock to all of us," said a
frightened-looking woman from the community said.

The woman said the child was found hanging from a rope at the back of
her house after another child raised an alarm.

Residents said the child was rushed to hospital by family members but
was later pronounced dead.

"We hear that she actually sent a message with the child that she was
going to commitsuicide," said the woman, who was among agroup of
residents discussing the tragedy.

"All now I can't come to my senses as to what took place," said a
male resident of the community. The man said he was at home when he
heard screams from the child's mother and went outside to see whatwas
happening. He claimed that when he went outside he saw the child's
mother on the ground weeping.

Yesterday, teachers and students from Ascot Primary School were in
shock when the Jamaica Observer news team visited the school and
informed them about the incident.

Principal of the school, Mark Jackson, remembered her as a top
achiever in the field of dance.