Eight students held on suspicion of fatal beating of boy, 17, over headphones

15 November 2023 , 03:29

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Jonathan is said to have been targeted after he stood up for a smaller friend who was robbed by the group of teenagers (Image: GoFundMe)

Eight students have been charged with murder over the fatal 'bully' beating of a 17-year-old student.

Jonathan Lewis, 17, who attended Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, died a fortnight after the attack by a group of students. Jonathan Lewis Sr. told of the tragic loss of his son, who lives with is mum, but had plans to move with his father to Austin, Texas.

The teenager is said to have been targeted after he stood up for a smaller friend who was robbed by the group of teenagers according to a webpage set up by his family. It reads: "Jonathan was a hero who tried to help a smaller child who was being bullied and 15 people attacked him in cowardly violence and our beloved son was beaten to death! Jonathan was an aspiring artist, a kind, loving, caring, and generous young man who had his whole life ahead of him and he will be forever loved and cherished every day every moment!"

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Now eight high school students between the ages of 13 and 17 have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the fatal beating, authorities announced Tuesday at a news conference Las Vegas police homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said investigators were still working to identify two more students believed to have participated in the Nov. 1 fight that he said was over a pair of wireless headphones and a vape pen.

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The father of Jonathan Lewis has said he cannot bring himself to watch the horrific footage of the beating (WallStreetSilv/Twitter)

Johansson said the local FBI office assisted with the arrests Tuesday morning of the eight students. The two outstanding students will also face murder charges, he said. Authorities did not identify the students because they are juveniles. Johansson said he and his team are working with the local district attorney's office to determine if they will be charged with murder as adults.

Johansson said the 17-year-old victim, Jonathan Lewis Jr., remained hospitalized with severe "head trauma" and other injuries until his death about a week after the fight. The coroner's office in Las Vegas ruled the beating a homicide.The fight, Johansson said, had been prearranged after the headphones and vape pen were stolen from the victim's friend.

Now eight high school students between the ages of 13 and 17 have been arrested on suspicion of murder atter the fatal beating (WallStreetSilv/Twitter)

He added investigators believe that the victim originally wasn't supposed to be involved in the fight but had accompanied his friend to a nearby alleyway, where the brawl was scheduled to take place after classes ended for the day at Rancho High School in eastern Las Vegas.

After his death, the victim's father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., said his son was attacked while standing up "for one of his smaller friends," the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. In the alley, the 10 students "immediately swarm him, pull him to the ground and begin kicking, punching and stomping on him," Johansson said. After the fight, he said a "citizen" in the area found the victim badly beaten and unconscious in the alleyway and carried him back to campus, where school staff called 911.

Abigail O'Leary