Las Vegas police arrest 8 suspects ages 13-17 for murder in teen’s beating death

On Tuesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department conducted a press briefing to provide updates on the homicide investigation following the severe beating and subsequent death of a Rancho High School student.Show more

A spokesperson for Metro revealed that the department has apprehended eight suspects, who will face murder charges in connection with the demise of Lewis.

Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson disclosed specifics about the incident leading to the victim's fatality. He described a confrontation in an alley adjacent to Rancho High School shortly after school dismissal on November 1. Lewis was discovered unconscious by a citizen after the altercation and was brought back to the school.

Upon examination at UMC, medical professionals determined that the victim had sustained "non-survivable head trauma." Lt. Johansson referenced a disturbing video circulating on social media capturing the beating, referring to it as "devoid of humanity."

The lieutenant explained that the altercation stemmed from a dispute over stolen wireless headphones and possibly a vape pen, taken from the victim's friends. All parties involved agreed to meet in the alley for a physical confrontation, according to police.

"As soon as a punch is thrown, ten subjects immediately swarm him," he stated, noting that approximately ten individuals were involved, with eight positively identified as suspects.

These eight suspects were apprehended by LVMPD in collaboration with an FBI Criminal Apprehension Team. Nine search warrants were executed, leading to the confiscation of evidence, including clothing seen in the video and multiple cell phones.

Johansson noted that all suspects are aged between 13 and 17, and the process is underway to charge them as adults. LVMPD plans to release photos of two unidentified individuals involved in the beating.

Concerning the incident, Johansson urged anyone with additional information or videos to come forward. He emphasized the importance of discussing the matter with children and dispelled any notion of the murder being a hate crime.

The lieutenant mentioned that an autopsy was conducted on the victim, who had donated his organs.

The incident originated from a battery call near Rancho High School on November 1, where a student was found "battered and bleeding from the head." He was initially taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and later placed on life support.

In response to the tragic event, the boy's father, speaking to FOX5, called for justice and lamented the divisive and conflict-based state of society. He emphasized the family's rejection of violence as a means to address sociological conflicts and shared information about a GoFundMe campaign for Jonathan.