Teen Killed by Falling Tree During Storms

Grief counselors were on hand at a Montgomery County high school Wednesday to help students cope with the sudden death of a classmate.

The body of Joshua Davis, 15, was found in a wooded area Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say a falling tree may have caused his death.

Davis was reported missing by his family Monday evening after he did not return home from a bike ride, while a strong line of storms moved through the region.

A neighbor told News4 the boy's father went looking for him and found his body in a wooded area on a trail behind a home in the 8600 block of Susannah Lane in Chevy Chase, Md.

Montgomery County Police received a call about the discovery just after 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Davis' father spoke with News4's Shomari Stone Tuesday off-camera, calling his son's death a freak accident. Josh was a sophomore with a 3.2 grade average. He loved the outdoors and had dreamed of becoming a pilot.

"Josh is a role model for any young man. He's a child. He... was an amazing person," said family friend Fannie Clermont Anderson.

He was the older of two children.

Davis was a student at Bethesda Chevy Chase Senior High School. On Wednesday, his classmates were taking final exams and taking time to remember him with love and praise.

"It was terrible when I found out," said student Dylan Johnson. "I was in tears."

"Everybody's just said that he's a really nice kid, and he was really happy all the time," said student Bill Foley. "Everybody's really sad about it."

The electornic marquis outside the school bore the message, "We Love You/Josh Davis/1997-2013."

The preliminary investigation found that a fallen tree struck Davis, police said.

Monday's thunderstorms -- which ripped through Montgomery County -- may have been a factor in his death. Between two and four inches of rain fell and winds gusted to 30 mph. There were reports of trees down in the area, said Storm Team 4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer.

No foul play is suspected at this time. Authorities are investigating the death as accidental.

Davis was known to frequent the woods, which were searched Monday night.

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