Eight teenagers have been charged with murder after fatally beating a fellow student who agreed to fight with the group over stolen wireless headphones.
Jonathan Lewis, 17, was attacked by a 10-man mob on November 1st. He died in the hospital on November 7, and the charges were announced on Tuesday.
Lt. Jason Johansson of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said all of the people involved – believed to be 10 – were students at Rancho High School.
Johansson described a viral video showing the beating as “inhumane.”
Lewis’ father said he “couldn’t watch” the clip.
Johansson said that after the beating, which occurred in an alley near the school, a citizen found Lewis lifeless and took him back to school.
Lewis was then taken to UMC, where doctors determined he had suffered “non-survivable head trauma,” Fox 5 Vegas reported.
Johansson said the dispute involved stolen wireless headphones and possibly a vape pen that had been taken from the victim’s friends. According to police, everyone involved agreed to meet in the alley to fight.
Jonathan Lewis, 17, died in hospital on November 7th following the November 1st brawl
“As soon as a blow is struck, ten subjects immediately swarm around him,” he said.
He added that the department was able to identify about 10 people involved in the murder and eight of them were “clearly identified as suspects.”
Johansson said the process was underway to have the eight people charged as adults.
LVMPD will release photos of two people they are trying to find who were involved in the beating but have not yet been identified.
Johansson appealed to anyone else who had video of the fight to come forward.
“There’s a high probability that there are more videos that we don’t have,” he said, urging parents to talk to their children about what happened and not “bury their heads in the sand.”
Lewis’ father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., who lives in Austin, Texas, said his son was targeted in the scuffle after he rushed to the aid of another student who was being teased by the bullies.
He said Jonathan was initially attacked by some students, who the 17-year-old fought off “because he was so strong”.
“But then all the other kids joined in and beat him to death,” he added to NewsNation.
Jonathan Lewis Sr. said his son was involved in the fight to fend off bullies
Jonathan Lewis Sr. condemned the brutal attack
Shocking footage of the attack shared on social media shows around 15 bullies attacking a student, believed to be 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis. Police have not officially reviewed the footage
As the violent scenes escalate, utter chaos ensues as the victim lies on the ground and is beaten until he loses consciousness
The footage was also shot from another cell phone and has since been posted on X
After Jonathan is knocked to the ground, one of his friends tries to intervene and stop the brutal attack before running away
Lewis Sr. has since set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his son’s untimely death, and he said the proceeds – which total more than $65,000 – will be shared between Jonathan’s families Mother and father divided.
According to the fundraiser launched after Lewis’ death, which quotes the teen’s girlfriend, his decision to take action was because the other bullied student he was helping was much smaller and out of touch with him Items were stolen from the group.
The site described him as “a kind, loving, gentle young man who has the heart of a champion and the brightest loving energy that draws people to him with love.”
The family wrote before his death: “He is an aspiring artist, a devoted big brother and a fierce protector of loved ones!”
“We are so grateful for all the love and community support our son has received and hope that the world focuses on and recognizes all this love and compassion as a beacon of hope for human relationships, how much stronger love is.” The spirit of community is greater than the dark moments of violence.
“Love prevails, our son is a champion of love and family and the resilient spirit of human perseverance and the will to be good, kind and loving!”