Current:Home > FinanceEight Las Vegas high schoolers face murder charges in their classmate’s death. Here’s what we know -FutureWise Finance
Eight Las Vegas high schoolers face murder charges in their classmate’s death. Here’s what we know
View
Date:2025-04-17 00:11:45
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Eight Las Vegas high school students between the ages of 13 and 17 years old were arrested on murder charges in the beating death of a schoolmate that was captured on cellphone video.
Jonathan Lewis Jr., 17, was hospitalized with severe head trauma and other injuries after the Nov. 1 attack and died a week later, according to police.
The fight appeared to be over a pair of headphones and a vape pen, police said, and the students had agreed to walk to an alleyway around the corner from campus to fight after classes ended for the day at Rancho High School in eastern Las Vegas.
Here’s what to know about the case:
WHAT’S NEW IN THE INVESTIGATION?
Authorities arrested the eight students Tuesday on suspicion of murder charges. But they believe at least 10 students took part in the beating.
Police on Wednesday released images of two students taken from cellphone video of the fight and asked for the public’s help in identifying them. Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said the two will also face murder charges.
A police spokesperson said Thursday morning that there were no updates on additional arrests.
WILL THE TEENAGERS BE CHARGED AS ADULTS?
In Nevada, a teenager accused of murder can be charged as an adult if they were 13 or older at the time of the crime.
By law, teenagers 16 or older accused in a killing are automatically transferred to the adult court system. That’s why a family court judge on Wednesday transferred the cases of four of the eight students, who are all 16 or 17.
None of the students who were arrested have been formally charged, and The Associated Press is not naming them.
Hearings will be held at later dates to determine if the students under 16 will be charged as adults.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF THE ATTACK?
The fight broke out after school let out that day. Police said they believe a pair of wireless headphones and vape pen had been stolen from the victim’s friend earlier in the week, which resulted in the students agreeing to meet in the alleyway to fight.
Detectives think the victim wasn’t originally supposed to be involved in the brawl, but he walked to the alleyway with his friend after school, Johansson said.
The victim’s father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., said on a fundraising page created to help with funeral and medical costs that his son was attacked while standing up for his friend.
The video of the fight shows the victim taking off his shirt to prepare for the fight, and then the 10 students “immediately swarm him, pull him to the ground and begin kicking, punching and stomping on him,” Johansson said.
He called the video “very void of humanity” and said the victim was not defending himself as he was being attacked.
After the brawl, a person in the area found the victim badly beaten and unconscious and carried him back to campus, where school staff called 911, Johansson said.
Homicide detectives were called on the day of the attack to lead the investigation due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, he said.
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL NOW?
Rancho High School’s principal, Darlin Delgado, said in a letter to parents this week that support and resources were available for students and staff members, as the beating death “has and will continue to impact our school community.”
Two weeks after the brawl, a small memorial with flowers and candles still sat against a fence in the alleyway where Lewis was attacked.
On Wednesday, there was a visible police presence at the school and around the campus as classes ended for the day, with marked school district police vehicles and uniformed officers patrolling the area.
The Clark County School District — the fifth largest in the nation, with about 300,000 students — has its own police department that has nearly 200 officers.
The district’s police chief, Mike Blackeye, said his agency has been partnering with police in Las Vegas and neighboring North Las Vegas to provide increased police coverage at the school in the morning, lunchtime and after school, which is when he said fights typically break out.
DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE RESOURCE OFFICERS?
Blackeye said there are two resource officers assigned to Rancho High School, both of whom were on duty that day. He said they didn’t hear about the prearranged fight before it happened.
At a news conference Tuesday, he said fights have broken out in the same alleyway before, but he stopped short of calling it a problem area, pointing out that fights have happened “all around that school, in parks and neighborhoods.”
veryGood! (7865)
Related
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Are morning workouts better for weight loss?
- Guatemalans rally on behalf of president-elect, demonstrating a will to defend democracy
- Julie Chen Moonves Accuses 2 Former The Talk Cohosts of Pushing Her Off Show
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Dear U.N.: Could you add these 4 overlooked items to the General Assembly agenda?
- Texas teacher fired over Anne Frank graphic novel. The complaint? Sexual content
- Julie Chen Moonves Accuses 2 Former The Talk Cohosts of Pushing Her Off Show
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- UAW strike latest: GM sends 2,000 workers home in Kansas
Ranking
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- 'Super Models' doc reveals disdain for Crawford's mole, Evangelista's ‘deep depression’
- Pennsylvania’s Senate wants an earlier 2024 presidential primary, partly to have a say on nominees
- Keeping rates higher for longer: Fed moves carefully as it battles to stamp out inflation
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- White homeowner who shot Black teen Ralph Yarl after he mistakenly went to his home pleads not guilty
- Pennsylvania state government will prepare to start using AI in its operations
- Woman, who jumped into outhouse toilet to retrieve lost Apple Watch, is rescued by police
Recommendation
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
COVID lockdowns and mail-in ballots: Inside the Trump-fueled conspiracy spreading online
Catch some ZZZs: How long does melatonin last? Here's what you should know.
Kraft recall: American cheese singles recalled for potential gagging, choking hazard
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
COVID lockdowns and mail-in ballots: Inside the Trump-fueled conspiracy spreading online
Texas AG Ken Paxton attacks rivals, doesn’t rule out US Senate run in first remarks since acquittal
Ohio’s political mapmakers are going back to work after Republican infighting caused a week’s delay