LAS VEGAS, NV – A group of eight high schoolers, aged between 13 and 17, were apprehended in Las Vegas on suspicion of murder following the lethal beating of a classmate aged 17. During an announcement held on Tuesday, the police declared their plan to identify two additional teenagers who allegedly had a role in the deadly brawl.
Head of Las Vegas police homicide, Lt. Jason Johansson, disclosed that a set of wireless headphones and a vape pen were the catalysts for the fatal scuffle. With the assistance of the local FBI office, the eight students were arrested. It’s anticipated that arrest warrants will be issued for the two unidentified students on murder charges.
The victim, Jonathan Lewis Jr., suffered severe head trauma and other injuries, leading to his hospitalization and subsequent death one week later. The Las Vegas coroner’s office deemed the beating as a homicide case.
A gruesome video of the attack circulated on social media, which Undersheriff Andrew Walsh of Las Vegas described as “extremely disturbing.” As per Johansson, investigators managed to identify the suspects through this video, with aid from school officials and the Clark County School District police.
Their identification would not be revealed due to their status as minors, as per Johansson. However, both he and his team are in discussions with the local district attorney’s office to determine whether the young suspects ought to face adult murder charges.
According to Johansson, the fight had been planned in advance as a response to the theft of headphones and a vape pen belonging to the victim’s friend. While the victim wasn’t initially intended to participate in the brawl, he had accompanied his friend to a nearby alleyway. There, after Rancho High School’s classes concluded for the day, the 10 teenagers swarmed the victim and subjected him to brutal kicking, punching, and stomping.
Following the fight, a local citizen found the unconscious victim, severely beaten, and returned him to the school campus. The school staff subsequently dialed 911 to alert authorities of the incident.