Security cameras captured the final moments of Owen Tillman Kenney’s life: a lone figure walking onto the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge at 3:49 a.m., his black hooded jacket pulled tight against the early-morning chill, light-colored pants visible under the glow of the streetlamps. It was just one hour and forty-nine minutes after friends had last seen him near King Street, unaware that their goodbyes would be the last. At only nineteen years old,
Owen was midway through his second semester at the College of Charleston, still finding his footing in a new city he’d moved to just ten months earlier after transferring from New Jersey. But Halloween night ended in heartbreak, with investigators concluding that Owen took his own life from the bridge’s pedestrian walkway.
In the days following his death, the Charleston community—both on campus and beyond—has been shaken by the sudden loss of a young man described as bright, funny, and deeply thoughtful. Friends say Owen had a way of making people feel comfortable instantly, whether through his dry humor, his surprising kindness, or the quiet patience he offered to anyone who needed it.
He loved music, late-night conversations, and exploring Charleston’s historic corners as he tried to make the city feel like home.His family back in New Jersey is devastated, remembering him as a loving son, a protective brother, and a young man with enormous potential. They shared that transferring to the College of Charleston had been a big, hopeful step for him—a chance to start fresh, make new connections, and build the life he envisioned.
Campus officials have encouraged students to lean on counseling services, while friends have organized small gatherings to honor Owen’s life, lighting candles and sharing stories that paint a picture of a young man who mattered deeply. His death is not only a personal tragedy but a stark reminder of the silent struggles so many carry. Owen Tillman Kenney is gone far too soon, but the impact of his kindness and presence will be remembered by everyone who knew him.
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