Eight teenagers have been taken into custody on suspicion of murder following the tragic death of a 17-year-old boy, Jonathan Lewis, who was fatally beaten near a Las Vegas high school earlier this month.
The suspects, aged between 13 and 17 years old, were part of a group of at least ten individuals who attacked Lewis on the afternoon of November 1st.
The incident occurred near Rancho High School, where Jonathan Lewis was assaulted by multiple individuals who punched, kicked, and stomped on him after school hours.
Family members reported that Lewis was declared brain-dead on November 7th at a hospital, and they decided to donate his organs.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s office determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma, officially ruling it as a homicide.
Undersheriff Andrew Walsh announced the arrests during a news conference on Tuesday. He also stated that the Las Vegas police department is advocating for qualified suspects to be charged as adults due to the severity of the crime.
At this time, two additional individuals believed to have been involved in the attack have not been identified.
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Tragic Death of Teenager Prompts Arrests
The police department intends to release video footage of these individuals in the hopes that someone will recognize them and provide information.
According to homicide Lt. Jason Johansson, the altercation appears to have stemmed from a dispute over stolen headphones and possibly a stolen marijuana vape pen that either Jonathan Lewis or his friend possessed.
Although Lewis’s friend had agreed to engage in a fight in an alley after school, Lewis intervened to protect his friend and became the target of the attack.
Undersheriff Walsh emphasized the severe consequences faced by the suspects, stating, “Their actions have life-altering consequences.”
The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing, and the community is urged to come forward with any information that may assist in bringing all those responsible to justice.
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