Las Vegas teen dies after being attacked by mob near high school, father says
A teenager in Las Vegas died from injuries he received earlier this month when he was beaten by a mob outside a high school, the boy's father says.
Jonathan Lewis Jr., 17, was "involved in a physical altercation with approximately 15 individuals" a short distance from Rancho High School on Nov. 1, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. When officers arrived, Jonathan was unconscious and school staffers were performing CPR. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
The teen's father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., said his son was attacked after he jumped in to help his friend – a smaller boy who had something stolen from him by the group and was thrown into a trash can.
"Jonathan just wanted to protect his friend," Lewis, 38, told USA TODAY. "He's a hero."
Police arrest 8 teenagers on charges of murder
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday arrested eight of the 10 students they say participated in the mob attack on murder charges. Those taken into custody are between the ages of 13 and 17, police said.
Videos of the incident circulated online and show the teen on the ground as he is being kicked and punched by the group. The videos led police to the identifications of those suspected to have been involved in the attack.
In a statement shared with USA TODAY, the Clark County School District said it's working with police and the district attorney's office to ensure those responsible for Jonathan's death are "held accountable."
"All of CCSD grieves the loss of every student," the statement said, adding: "CCSD does not tolerate violence or threats to students or their safety. We all must come together as a community to address the needs of our students so disagreements are resolved through dialogue rather than violence."
The family started a GoFundMe to raise funds to be split between each of Jonathan's parents. As of Tuesday morning, more than $78,000 had been donated.
Family plans foundation to tackle youth violence issues
Jonathan was a connoisseur of music, especially hip-hop, and had aspirations of becoming "an artist of some kind," Lewis said.
In recent months, the pair had discussed the possibility of Jonathan moving to Austin, Texas, to live with his father. Lewis outfitted his home with a studio, and he intended to teach his son how to paint with acrylics.
"I had a car for him," Lewis said. "He was about to start a whole new life."
After he was attacked, Jonathan was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, where he was put on life support and died four days later.
"I'm still in shock," Lewis said. "I'm going to probably spend the rest of my life just trying to do something about it now because ... I just lost my boy."
At their son's bedside, Jonathan's parents thought of starting a foundation – Team Jonathan – that would focus on root problems causing youth violence. Lewis made a website in dedication to his son and announced what he hopes will become a nonprofit with a national scope – one that would offer after-school and mentorship programs, especially for children without stable home lives.
And, as far as the ongoing criminal case, Lewis said he's not going to live in his pain and anger.
"Justice, to me, is not just these kids going to prison," he said. "I'm not going to feel like I have justice for my son until things change in society."
Christopher Cann is a breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him via email at ccann@usatoday.com or follow him on X @ChrisCannFL.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Las Vegas teen Jonathan Lewis dies after being attacked by mob
