NEGRIL, Westmoreland — The body of a 15-year-old student was yesterday found in her bed with a bullet wound to her head at her home in West End, Negril.

The deceased has been identified as Josephine Wolfe, a third form student who attended the Manning’s School here in Westmoreland.

According to Josephine’s stepfather, who gave his name only as ‘Short Man’, he became curious when he went outside about 8:00 am yesterday and noticed that two blades were missing from a window to the bedroom shared by Josephine and her four-year-old sibling.

He said that, after alerting his spouse, they both went into the girls’ room where the body of the schoolgirl was found in the bed with her sister lying beside her.

“We found her this morning with gunshot in her bed. I was inside the house and didn’t hear any shot,” said ‘Short Man’.

Scores of curious onlookers later gathered outside the area cordoned off by the police. Most of those at the crime scene described Josephine as well behaved.

“She was an intelligent, polite and humorous girl,” a male community member commented.

“Caan believe seh is di little girl who mi si yesterday. Today you here tomorrow you gone. A one nice little girl; she talk intelligent. She in the shop (which her parents operate) sometimes,” said another community member who did not want his name published.

Principal of the Manning’s School, Steve Gordon, described Josephine as a promising student. Josephine, he added, was a fairly good student who socialised with “a fairly good crop of students. Even her guidance counsellor said she was of good conduct, pleasant, cheerful, and full of humour”, Gordon said.

“We consider ourselves as a family, and we got in touch and spoke to her mother when we heard the news,” added the school principal.

Yesterday, Josephine’s mother and her four-year-old sibling were not at home when the Jamaica Observer visited the community.

But the schoolgirl’s stepfather disclosed that she was looking forward to fourth form in September and, as recently as Sunday, they were all discussing the purchasing of back-to-school items.

‘Short Man’ said that planning was in an advanced stage for Josephine, who would have turned 16 on September 3, to host her Sweet 16 birthday party.

“She was going to have the party the 27th of this month to accommodate her friends, as September they would be back in school,” said the stepfather.

“She booked hotel for her friends.”

Meanwhile, 63-year-old Ashley Baker described Josephine’s murder as the most bizarre incident reported in the community for nearly three decades.

“Nearly 30 year mi live here and is the worst thing me ever hear happen over here for these long years. This little girl don’t give trouble, she just always playing games on her computer. I couldn’t even drink mi coffee when me hear about the incident,” the elderly man said.

The schoolgirl’s killing has pushed the murder tally in the parish to 60 since the start of the year, almost doubling the number for the same period last year.