Reward offered for information in stabbing death of teen in Coconut Creek

Police say Iury Desena, 15, was stabbed to death at Winston Nature Park

Iury Desena. (Broward County Crime Stoppers)

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. ā€“ Broward Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of the person who stabbed a 15-year-old boy to death at a park in Coconut Creek earlier this month.

Police confirmed the stabbing occurred on April 20 at the Winston Nature Park, in the area of Northwest 49th Avenue and 52nd Street.

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The victim, who authorities identified as Iury Desena, initially survived and fire rescue personnel flew him to Broward Health Medical Center, where he died a week later.

On Friday, Coconut Creek police said they ā€œhave developed several strong leads,ā€ but no arrests have been made, as of Tuesday.

Police are asking residents of the Hilton Estates, Cypress Estates, Huntington and Breckenridge West to provide any surveillance footage to detectives taken between 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on April 20.

ā€œWe are specifically interested in any juvenile, or juveniles, your cameras might have picked up on that day, during that time frame,ā€ police said. ā€œDetectives have been going door-to-door in those neighborhoods as well and are continuing to do so.ā€

Authorities are asking residents to email Coconut Creek Police Department spokesperson Scotty Leamon at sleamon@coconutcreek.net if they wish to provide video.

Iuryā€™s grandmother posted on social media that his organs are being donated and his loved ones gathered at Broward Health Medical Center Monday evening for a tribute.

Although no arrests have been made at this time, the teenā€™s mother initially wrote (in a now-deleted post) on Facebook that police had someone in custody.

A motive for the stabbing remains unclear.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call the Coconut Creek Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

Crime Stoppers tipsters will remain anonymous and receive a reward of up to $5,000 for any information that leads to an arrest.

Iuryā€™s loved ones have created a GoFundMe to help with expenses following his death, and it can be found by clicking here.


About the Authors

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida since 1994.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

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