Winter Park teen dead after fight in Central Park

It’s been called the crown jewel of Winter Park. Nestled in the heart of downtown, it’s where families gather on blankets to watch outdoor movies. It’s a place for picnics and where children go to play.

But on Saturday night at around 10 p.m., Winter Park’s Central Park was the site of a violent act that snuffed out the life of a 15-year-old Winter Park High School student – an incident that police and residents are still trying to understand.

Police responded to a call that night of an unconscious teen in the north end of the park near the intersection of Morse Boulevard and Park Avenue, just south of the Emily fountain in the grass near a cluster of oak trees.

The young man was identified as Roger Trindade – a student from Brazil in Winter Park High School’s International Baccalaureate Program. He was transferred to a local hospital, where he was pronounced brain dead and taken off life support Monday night.

Police are still investigating the incident, treating it as a “suspicious death” until they understand what happened, said Winter Park Police Chief Michael Deal in a press conference on Tuesday. Witnesses have told police that a fight broke out after a group of teens sprayed Trindade with some type of “odorous spray” – not mace or pepper spray, Deal said. Trindade was reportedly sitting on a park bench with friends and stood up to confront the group.

What happened next is unclear, but there are reports that Trindade was savagely beaten by the group of teens. Deal confirmed that there are multiple juvenile suspects, some of which are believed to be Winter Park High School students.

The cause of Trindade’s death is still unknown, as he had minimal visible injuries when he was found by police, Deal said. A medical examiner is expected to confirm the cause of death soon, he added.

More than 3,000 miles away in Brazil, Trindade’s sister Laura was thankful for her brother’s life.

“If I could say something now it would be AMEN,” Laura wrote in a post on her Facebook. “AMEN for parents, for siblings, for friends, for whatever. AMEN! Life, in a matter of seconds, can take from us what is most precious. Today a part of me is gone, but I am sure that I never failed in giving love to nor receiving love from my brother. He was always so pure. Not for a day had I seen him upset. On the contrary, this angel doled out joy wherever he went.”

Deal said that whatever happened in Central Park that night is believed to be an isolated incident, not a hate crime or a gang-related act of violence.

“We don’t believe this was a group of juveniles in the park looking to hurt somebody,” Deal said.

Local residents looking for answers expressed frustration that it’s taken so long for the city to reveal details about what happened, believing it’s disrespectful to the victim.

“I don’t care where it is – when a life is lost, that deserves respect and acknowledgment.” said Winter Park resident David Baker. “It’s not about protecting some pristine image of Winter Park, that’s not important to me. No place is pristine, so let’s not fake it.”

“I have a son that graduated from Winter Park a few years ago and one that’s there now as a senior…When it comes that close to home it’s very disturbing. It’s very sad.”

Deal said the lack of immediate information was simply a result of protecting a sensitive and ongoing investigation.

“We’re not trying to hide anything,” Deal said.

“I understand the community’s desire to have this information. We certainly don’t want to hide stuff, but we don’t want to give inaccurate information either.”

On Tuesday the clearing in the north end of Central Park looked as it usually does, with families strolling through the park and taking in the calm sanctuary. But there’s one growing addition to the park’s quiet green space: a collection of flowers and other tokens at the foot of a small tree, just feet away from where Trindade was found.