Family members remember the 16-year-old who drowned at Pepper Park Beach

Our fort pierce community is heavy with grief after the tragic drowning of 16-year-old Jonathan Peralta Leon on Pepper Park Beach.

This heartbreaking incident occurred Sunday evening, as confirmed by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

Morgan Harmon, a lieutenant with Ocean Rescue, expressed the severity of the beach conditions: “It is extremely dangerous right now. We have had these conditions for about two weeks.”

Jonathan’s sister, Johanna, shared her grief with WPTV, saying: “It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to you, my little brother. May you rest peacefully. I hope to see you again in another life. This world doesn’t feel the same without you.”

Peralta Leon family

A mother of one of Jonathan’s friends remembered him fondly, saying, “He was a very respectful young man. He called me ‘Old Señora,’ laughed and said, ‘I love you.’”

At Pepper Park Beach, where red flags are currently flying, Harmon noted, “Green flag days are few and far between.”

Although the beach is usually patrolled until 5 p.m., officers reported that Peralta Leon drowned Sunday evening around 7 p.m.

“It was about an hour after we got off duty. A few of us were still around, so we came back to see if we could do anything,” Harmon said.

Unfortunately, the only individuals he encountered were Jonathan’s two friends, who made it out safely.

WPTV

“The people who were in trouble were a little shocked, but mostly everyone was out here making sure no one else was in the water,” Harmon said.

As the community mourns, loved ones have taken to social media to share photos and heartfelt messages in honor of Jonathan – a young man celebrated as an amazing person taken far too soon.

In memory of Jonathan, his family also has one GoFundMe page.