Four Las Vegas high school students were charged as adults in the fatal beating of their classmate on Nov. 1.
Prosecutors charged the four teenagers, two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds, with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit battery. The teenagers will be held without bail but will be transferred from the county jail to a juvenile detention center.
On Nov. 1, a group of 10-15 children, ages 13 to 17, prearranged a fight and beat 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis Jr. to death in an alleyway behind Rancho High School in eastern Las Vegas.
Officials say the fight broke out over a vape pen and headphones, which were stolen earlier that week. The fight, caught on a cellphone camera in broad daylight, showed Lewis Jr. removing his shirt, and then several students “immediately swarm him, pull him to the ground and begin kicking, punching and stomping on him.” Officers say the victim was not defending himself during the attack as students continued to attack him.
Lewis Jr. was hospitalized with severe head trauma and died a week later.
Detectives believe the fight wasn’t intended to target Lewis Jr., but he got involved when he entered the alley with his friend.
Police have made at least nine arrests in connection to the fight, including the four teenagers charged on Tuesday and several other teenagers who are younger than 16.
In Nevada, teenagers who are 13 or older can be tried as an adult if they are accused of murder, though they are entitled to a certification hearing before a family court judge before they’re transferred into the adult court system. However, if defendants are at least 16 when they’re accused of murder, a judge can waive the certification hearing and immediately transfer the case.
It’s not the first time this year that underage children in Las Vegas have been accused in a high-profile murder case. Last month, two teenagers were indicted and charged as adults after using a stolen car in a crime spree that included targeting and fatally running over a 73-year-old retired policeman on a bicycle.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Jonathan Lewis Sr. told a local Las Vegas news station, “Jonathan was an incredible, loving, kind and generous young man” who “cared about the people around him.”
Lewis Sr., who works with troubled youth, is starting a conflict resolution-based organization in memory of his son called Team Jonathan. He said his son died trying to do the right thing and stand up for his friend.
