Killing of Jonathan Lewis
{{Short description|2023 killing in Las Vegas, Nevada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jonathan Lewis Jr.
| image = Jonathan Lewis.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = January 10, 2006
| birth_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.{{cite web |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/jonathan-lewis-11572979 |title=OBITUARY Jonathan Edward Lewis Jr. JANUARY 10, 2006 – NOVEMBER 7, 2023 |last= |first= |date= |website=Dignity Memorial |publisher= |access-date=2 January 2024 |quote=}}
| death_date = November 1, 2023 (aged 17)
| death_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
| death_cause = Homicide (blunt trauma)
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| education = Rancho High School
| father = Jonathan Lewis Sr.
| mother = Mellisa Ready
}}
On November 1, 2023, Jonathan Edward Lewis Jr., a 17-year-old student at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., was attacked by a mob of students at the school. Lewis had been standing up for a friend who was bullied by the students. He succumbed to injuries from the assault on November 7, 2023.
Background
Jonathan Lewis Jr. was described by his father as "a loving, giving, kind, fierce young man who loved community and caring for others." He aspired to become an artist, being interested in drawing, photography and painting and a connoisseur in music, especially hip-hop.{{cite news |last1=Burbank |first1=Jeff |title=Teen beaten near high school has died from injuries, father says |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/teen-beaten-near-high-school-has-died-from-injuries-father-says-2937485/ |access-date=21 November 2023 |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 10, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Cann |first1=Christopher |title=Las Vegas teen dies after being attacked by mob near high school, father says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/14/las-vegas-teen-jonathan-lewis-dies-after-fight/71577256007/ |access-date=21 November 2023 |newspaper=USA Today |date=November 14, 2023}} He was also considering joining the military, like his grandfather who served in the U.S. Navy. At the time of his death, Lewis lived with his mother and had plans to move to Austin, Texas with his father.{{cite web |last1=Peguero |first1=Joshua |title=Police investigate death of teen boy near a high school in Las Vegas |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-teens-father-speaks-out-after-deadly-attack-near-school/ |website=8 News Now |access-date=22 November 2023 |date=November 9, 2023}}
Incident
The incident that led to the death of Jonathan Lewis reportedly began when earlier in the week, a group of bullies stole a pair of wireless headphones and possibly a marijuana vape pen from a student, who was a friend of Lewis and smaller than him,{{cite news |last1=Jiménez |first1=Jesus |title=8 Teens Charged With Murder in Beating Death of 17-Year-Old Schoolmate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/15/jonathan-lewis-jr-death-las-vegas.html |access-date=21 November 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 15, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Schladebeck |first1=Jessica |title=8 Las Vegas teens arrested in fatal beating of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis captured in brutal online video |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/11/15/las-vegas-arrest-teens-beating-death-jonathan-lewis/ |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=New York Daily News |date=November 15, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Bella |first1=Timothy |title=8 teens arrested on murder charges in beating of Las Vegas boy, 17 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/11/15/las-vegas-teens-arrested-murder-beating/ |access-date=21 November 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 15, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Yamat |first1=Rio |title=8 Las Vegas teens face murder charges in classmate's beating death |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-11-17/eight-las-vegas-teens-murder-charges-classmate-death |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 17, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Alonso |first1=Melissa |last2=Dewberry |first2=Sarah |last3=Rose |first3=Andy |last4=Flower |first4=Kevin |title=8 juveniles face murder charges in 'senseless' attack on student that was captured on video, police say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/15/us/jonathan-lewis-vegas-student-murder-charges/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=21 November 2023 |date=November 16, 2023}}{{cite news |title=8 high school students in Las Vegas arrested on murder charges in fatal beating of classmate |url=https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-high-school-brawl-fatal-f1d1a7347e0cfa456535edd4e2bdea9a |access-date=22 November 2023 |work=Associated Press News |date=November 14, 2023}} and threw him into a trash can.{{cite news |last1=Luscombe |first1=Richard |title='Heart of a champion': father grieves son beaten to death by mob in Las Vegas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/13/las-vegas-teen-beaten-death-mob-school |access-date=21 November 2023 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 13, 2023}} Following that, the students agreed to meet in a back alley around a corner from campus to fight, which happened after classes on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Initially, Jonathan was not planned to be involved in the altercation but accompanied his friend to the alleyway where the incident took place. They faced a mob of approximately 15 students. A video of the brawl shows Lewis taking off his shirt to prepare for the fight,{{cite news |last1=Yamat |first1=Rio |title=Judge orders Las Vegas high schoolers held on no bail in classmate's deadly beating |url=https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-school-beating-suspects-jonathan-lewis-93769353dec2f44aca7b947b3d3c11b3 |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=Associated Press News |date=November 17, 2023}} before being swarmed, pushed against a fence and forced onto the ground, where he is punched, kicked and stomped on by 10 individuals.
After the assault, Lewis was found badly beaten and unconscious by a person who carried him back to campus, where the school staff called 911. He was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, where he was hospitalized and placed on life support. Doctors soon determined he had "nonsurvivable head trauma". Six days later on November 7, Lewis was declared medically brain dead. An autopsy performed by the Clark County coroner's office determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Investigation
Nine juveniles have been taken into custody and were facing murder charges. The suspects ranged in age from 13 to 17 and were students at Rancho High School.{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/22/las-vegas-teenagers-murder-high-school-classmate-jonathan-lewis-jr/71673371007/ | title=4 Las Vegas teenagers charged with murder as adults in fatal beating of high school classmate | newspaper=USA Today |first1=Minnah |last1=Arshad |first2=Christopher |last2=Cann |first3=Jeanine |last3=Santucci |date=November 22, 2023 }} Four of the teenagers, identified as Gianni Robinson, Damien Hernandez, Treavion Randolph and Dontral Beaver, were scheduled to be tried as adults since they were in the age range of 16 to 17. The other teenagers were ordered to be held in juvenile detention center until the certification hearings could be held on December 6, 2023, due to their ages ranging from 13 to 15.{{cite news |last1=Newberg |first1=Katelyn |title=4 teens arrested in fatal high school beating to be tried as adults |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/4-teens-arrested-in-fatal-high-school-beating-to-be-tried-as-adults-2939763/ |access-date=22 November 2023 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 15, 2023}} The remaining student that participated in the beating is still at large. In January 2024, a 15-year-old pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and will be committed to Child Correctional Services.{{cite web| url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/judge-approves-guilty-plea-agreement-for-15-year-old-accused-in-beating-death-of-rancho-classmate/amp/|publisher=KLAS |first1=Caroline |last1=Bleakley |title=Judge approves guilty plea agreement for 15-year-old accused in beating death of Rancho classmate | date=January 31, 2024 }} In February, two more of the defendants under 16, including the 13-year-old, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter.{{cite web | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/two-more-juveniles-admit-roles-in-fatal-rancho-high-beating-2995652/amp/ | title=Two more juveniles admit roles in fatal Rancho High beating | Courts | Crime | date=February 7, 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://katu.com/amp/news/nation-world/2-teens-plead-guilty-in-beating-death-las-vegas-high-school-student-jonathan-lewis-plead-guilty-minors-tried-as-adults-court-rancho | title=2 teens plead guilty in beating death of Las Vegas high school student |date=February 7, 2024 |publisher=KATU (TV) |accessdate=June 14, 2024 }}
On August 2, 2024, the District Attorney backtracked and allowed the four older teenagers to plead guilty to manslaughter as juveniles. The deal was contingent on all four of them accepting it. If any of them backed out of the deal, they would again be charged in adult court.{{Cite web |last=Sonner |first=Scott |last2=Ritter |first2=Ken |date=2024-08-01 |title=4 Las Vegas teens agree to plead guilty as juveniles in deadly beating of high school student |url=https://apnews.com/article/fatal-beating-las-vegas-high-school-juveniles-3461d62ec780aea58e51cca889843373 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Peguero |first1=Joshua |title='No justice for my son,' Mother criticizes plea deal for teens |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/no-justice-for-my-son-mother-criticizes-plea-deal-for-teens/ |publisher=KLAS |access-date=5 August 2024 |date=August 1, 2024}} Lewis' mother Mellisa Ready has criticized the deal, which she stated she was not notified of, telling KLAS-TV "You cannot jump on a human being's head, stomp on him, and think that they're going to remain alive after. They knew he was going to die, and that's how I feel – and they're letting them get away with murder." She also said "There is no justice for my son Jonathan Lewis, that was stomped to death and murdered while 20 people stood there and did nothing more than film it and broadcast it to social media."{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCyUlo_0hlY |title=4 teens accused of killing classmate take plea deal on lesser charge of manslaughter; victim's mothe |date=2024-08-01 |last=8 News Now — Las Vegas |access-date=2024-08-07 |via=YouTube}} On September 4, 2024, the four struck the deal, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Karen A. Connolly, an attorney for Damien Hernandez, told CBS News, "Though not one of the major participants, Damien deeply regrets his participation in the melee which resulted in Jonathan's tragic death. He accepts full responsibility and will accept whatever punishment is meted out."{{cite web |title=4 Las Vegas teens plead guilty in classmate's deadly beating as part of plea deal |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/4-las-vegas-teens-plead-guilty-in-classmates-deadly-beating-as-part-of-plea-deal/ |website=CBS News |access-date=26 October 2024 |date=September 4, 2024}} Later in the month, the four were sent to juvenile detention center.{{cite news |last1=Newberg |first1=Katelyn |title=More teens sent to juvenile detention for fatal beating of Rancho student |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/three-more-teens-sent-to-juvenile-detention-for-fatal-beating-of-rancho-student-3170894/ |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=September 16, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Brigham |first1=Noble |title='Extreme and heinous': Defendant in fatal Rancho HS beating sentenced |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/extreme-and-heinous-defendant-in-fatal-rancho-hs-beating-sent-to-correctional-facility-3180177/ |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=September 30, 2024}}
On April 9, 2025, Mellisa Ready filed a lawsuit against the Clark County School District, accusing them and Sandra Corona, the owner of the property where the beating occurred, of wrongful death and negligence. The lawsuit alleges that the beating took place on an area "adjacent to and partially on" Corona's property in the 1300 block of North 21st Street and the location was a "known gathering spot" for students and that there had been prior fights and criminal activity in the vicinity. In addition, Ready states that the district "failed to take reasonable steps to supervise students in or near the area, implement preventive measures, or notify law enforcement", the perpetrators "were known to the school administration and had exhibited prior aggressive or violent behavior", and there had been at least one altercation or conflict involving Lewis or his peers prior and school staff "were on notice or should have been on notice of escalating tensions." Neither CCSD nor Corona have responded.{{cite news |last1=Futterman |first1=Katie |title=Mom of Las Vegas teen fatally beaten outside high school files lawsuit |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/mom-of-las-vegas-teen-fatally-beaten-outside-high-school-files-lawsuit-3349587/ |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=April 10, 2025}}
References
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Category:2023 murders in the United States
Category:21st century in Las Vegas
Category:Bullying in the United States
Category:Child murder in Nevada
Category:Deaths by beating in the United States
Category:Incidents of violence against boys
Category:Murdered American students