Teens indicted in fatal mob attack on Las Vegas high school student

LAS VEGAS (CN) — A grand jury has indicted four teenagers on charges related to the fatal beating of Jonathan Lewis, a 17-year-old student at Rancho High School in Las Vegas.

The defendants, Treavion Randolph and Dontral Beaver, both 16, along with Damien Hernandez, 18, and Gianni Robinson, 17, face charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani announced the indictment Friday.

On Nov. 1, 2023, at around 2:05 p.m., officers responded to reports of a fight involving students near the high school. The case made headlines when video of the assault went viral.

“What you see in the video is approximately 10 subjects kicking, stomping and punching our victim, Jonathan, as he is on the ground not defending himself, to the point that he becomes unconscious,” Las Vegas Metro Police Lt. Jason Johansson said.

Lewis died almost a week later from injuries sustained in the attack.

“Jonathan was a hero who tried to help a smaller child who was being bullied and 12 people attacked him and our beloved son was beaten to death,” according to the We Are Team Jonathan Lewis website. “Team JO Jonathan was an aspiring artist, a kind, loving, caring, and generous young man who had his whole life ahead of him and he will be forever loved and cherished every day every moment!”

The case, initially handled within the juvenile justice system, took a turn with the grand jury’s decision. This process was conducted privately, excluding defense attorneys, and led to the cancellation of the preliminary hearing.

The decision to try Randolph, Beaver, Hernandez, and Robinson as adults is due to their ages, while five other teenagers will remain under juvenile court jurisdiction. A determination is pending on whether they will also be charged as adults.

A status conference will be held Jan. 22.

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