Two teenagers, one just 13 years old, plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in beating death of Las Vegas teen Jonathan Lewis after four others were indicted for murder by grand jury
Two more teens have pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for beating Las Vegas teen Jonathan Lewis to death in November.
Both teens entered guilty pleas in court Wednesday morning, appearing before Judge Amy Mastin in handcuffs and wearing juvenile detention uniforms.
The names of the youths are not being released publicly because of their ages and because their cases are being heard in family court.
They are charged for their role in the death of Jonathan Lewis, 17, who died after being brutally beaten by a group of about 15 other students.
Lewis’ fatal attack occurred on Nov. 1 outside Rancho High School in Las Vegas.
Two more teens have pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for beating Las Vegas teen Jonathan Lewis to death in November
Jonathan Lewis, 17, died in hospital days after he was viciously attacked by a group of about 15 other teenagers on November 1
Here, Lewis is trampled by the group as he tries to defend himself from the attack, before being knocked unconscious
Lewis was hospitalized with severe head trauma and other injuries and died a week later
The first teen to appear in court Wednesday was represented in court by attorney Richard Bryant, and his hearing was scheduled for March 6.
The second teenager is only 13 years old. He was represented by attorney Anthony Wright.
While the teens pleaded guilty in the juvenile justice system, their cases will be removed from the adult system by the state.
Lewis’ mother and aunt appeared virtually in court for the proceedings. KNV reported.
Four teenagers have been charged as adults for the murder of their fellow student Lewis – and their mugshots have been made public.
In January, a Clark County grand jury indicted 16-year-old Dontral Beaver; Damien Hernandez, 17; Treavion Randolph, 16; and Gianni Robinson, 17, in connection with his death, and while they claim self-defense, it is unclear if they have entered a formal plea at this time.
The four teens in the adult justice system are scheduled to appear back in court on Feb. 22 for a trial readiness check.
Three of the boys are being held at the Clark County Detention Center. Damien Hernandez posted bail.
In December, disturbing 911 calls made in the moments after Lewis’ fatal beating were released.
Dontral Beaver, 16 (left), and Gianni Robinson, 17, were arrested along with six others accused of attacking Lewis
Damien Hernandez, 17 (left), and Treavion Randolph, 16 (right), have both been charged as adults with murder
As the 17-year-old lay unconscious, beaten and barely breathing on Nov. 1, an onlooker, who appeared to be a teenager, initially simply told the dispatcher, “Someone’s passed out.”
The dispatcher responded, “What do you mean, like they passed out?” Or were they beaten?’
The caller clarified that a fight had occurred, before a female voice intervened and told the officer, “They say someone jumped the student and the student is unconscious.” He’s breathing, but unconscious.’
The chaotic, frenzied scenes of him being punched, stomped and kicked were detailed by shocked onlookers at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police 911 dispatch center around 1:40 p.m.
Imagery obtained by 8 News Now shows Lewis being taken to safety at the high school by a student and neighbor after the brutal attack.
Another video shows Lewis being trampled by the group as he tries to defend himself from the attack, before being knocked unconscious.
According to the newspaper, a tenth ‘person of interest’ is still at large, all of whom are students at the school.
The newspaper reported that a police officer told the grand jury: “(Robinson) said he had been harassed by Jonathan before about stealing a wax pen or a marijuana vape or something like that, and he was confronted by Jonathan and an adult woman regarding it .
“He said nothing came of it, he proved he didn’t have it, he showed them a bunch of money and said, hey, I don’t have to steal anything, I have money of my own, and that’s kind of what he thought. was the end of it.’
Footage obtained by 8 News Now shows Lewis being led to safety at the high school by a student and neighbor after the brutal attack
Flowers were left at the scene with a poignant message on one bouquet: ‘You are a hero!!!’
The officer also added that a friend of Lewis was armed with a knife and “cut and slashed” everyone.
That friend can also be seen in the new footage in which he is chased and attacked by the group.
A school official told the grand jury that a neighbor and a student had to carry Lewis back to the school for help.
Referring to the new footage, the teen’s father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., told 8 News Now: “I call on the world to ask ourselves: Is this who we want to become? Is this who we want to be? Can we be better than this?