Eight teenagers, aged 13 to 17, were arrested in connection with the fatal beating of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis near Rancho High School in Las Vegas, the local NBC affiliate reported on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on November 1, where at least 10 individuals allegedly punched, kicked, and stomped Lewis after school.
Family members reported that Lewis was declared brain-dead on November 7, prompting organ donation plans. The Clark County medical examiner determined the cause of death as blunt force trauma, classifying it as a homicide.
GRAPHIC: Here's the video from Nov 1st, where a mob of over a dozen black teens jumped Jonathan Lewis Jr.
The fight was over a pair of stolen wireless headphones and possibly a vape pen, which were taken from friends of the victim. According to police, all parties agreed to meet… pic.twitter.com/wjMWCMRmgY
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 15, 2023
The suspects, not publicly identified due to their age, were booked on suspicion of murder.
Video of the brutal attack was posted to X, where Charlie Kirk commented: “Jonathan’s father claims on his GoFundMe, “that one of [Jonathan’s] smaller friends had something stolen by this group of 15 and they threw the small boy in the trash can and our son confronted them and he was attacked by them.” The killers whooped in triumph and joy while jumping and stomping on Lewis’s helpless limp body. Every single one of them should die in prison.”
Las Vegas police officials, including Undersheriff Andrew Walsh, expressed a desire for qualified suspects to be charged as adults.
The attack reportedly stemmed from a dispute over stolen headphones and a possibly stolen marijuana vape pen. Two additional individuals involved in the assault remain unidentified, and the police plan to circulate video footage in hopes of obtaining information.
Walsh emphasized the severe consequences of the suspects’ actions, recognizing the life-altering impact of the incident.
