Teenagers Arrested for Fatal Beating of Jonathan Lewis

Authorities in Las Vegas have arrested eight teens in connection with the brutal beating death of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis, who was allegedly standing up for his friend in the moments before he was attacked by a mob of fellow students.

The suspects, all of them between the ages of 13 and 17 years old, have not been identified because they are minors. They were taken into custody on Tuesday and booked into Clark County juvenile hall on suspicion of murder, Las Vegas Undersheriff Andrew Walsh said during a news conference. He added the police department is pushing for all qualified suspects to be charged as adults.

Disturbing video shared on social media shows the mob pushing Lewis against a fence, and then forcing him onto the ground before they punch and kick him until he is unconscious. Walsh called the clips “incredibly disturbing,” but said they were also used to identify those involved in the violence.

Officers are still searching for another two people, both of whom were filmed punching and kicking Lewis alongside the other eight suspects. Police said the incident unfolded on Nov. 1 near Rancho High School. Lewis’ father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., has claimed his son became incensed by the bullying and that he was attempting intervene on behalf of a friend when he was killed. Lewis told multiple outlets the group was terrorizing a smaller student, alleging they stole from him and then dumped him into a trash bin.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johansson confirmed the fight was seemingly sparked by stolen headphones and possibly a stolen marijuana vape pen that belonged to either Lewis or his friend, who in turn, agreed to a fight in the alley after school. He added that Lewis was not supposed to be involved in the showdown, but he was swarmed the minute he stepped in to defend his friend.

Johannson confirmed everyone involved in the deadly altercation attended Rancho High School.

Lewis remained hospitalized with severe “head trauma” and other injuries until his death about a week after the brawl. His family said he was pronounced brain dead on Nov. 7.

According to the Clark County medical examiner’s office, Lewis’ cause of death was blunt force trauma, with the manner of death being homicide.