CRIME
8 Juveniles Arrested For Murder So Far In Fatal Beating Of Las Vegas Teen, More Suspects Sought
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Eight teenagers have been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal beating of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis Jr. on Nov. 1.
Lewis died in the hospital days later on Nov. 7. His cause of death was blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was ruled homicide.
The Las Vegas Metro Police Department said Tuesday that eight juvenile Rancho High School students ages 13 to 17 have been arrested and booked into the Clark County Juvenile Hall for open murder. Police are still searching for two additional unidentified suspects.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Las Vegas Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said the brawl near the school started over incidents earlier in the week, including stolen headphones and possibly a stolen vape pen. The items were either stolen from Lewis or one of Lewis’s friends, police said.
Lewis’s friend had agreed to fight in the alley after school, but Lewis stepped in to defend his friend and was attacked, Johansson said. A mob of teens then swarmed Lewis, knocked him to the ground, and continued punching, kicking, and stomping on him.
The heinous attack was very void of humanity, Johansson said.
Undersheriff Andrew Walsh said the police department is urging prosecutors to charge at least some of the suspects as adults.
Their actions have life-altering consequences, Walsh said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and they are seeking the public’s help in identifying the remaining assailants.
TMX contributed to this article.
