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8 teens arrested in beating death of white Las Vegas high school student – police say no evidence of ‘hate crime’

November 15, 2023 | | Print Article

Police have arrested eight teenagers suspected of murder after allegedly beating a defenseless Las Vegas high school student, and the focus has been on what the media is not reporting.

Undersheriff Andrew Walsh reported Tuesday that the suspects, who range in age from 13 to 17 years old, were booked on the charges following the death of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis who was set upon by the group near a Las Vegas high school earlier this month.

“The beating took place near Rancho High School. Family members told police that Lewis was brain-dead Nov. 7 at a hospital and that they made plans that day to donate his organs, homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said,” according to NBC News. “The Clark County medical examiner’s office concluded the cause of death was blunt force trauma, with the manner of death being homicide, he said.”

The arrested teens have not been identified reportedly due to being minors but Walsh indicated that the police department was evidently pushing for some to be tried as adults.

Missing from media reports, however, are any comments on the race of those involved in the beating death of the white high school student while police have also not wanted to label the savage beating as a hate crime.

Lewis’ heartbroken father called the attack a savage crime, according to KLAS-TV, and, despite Las Vegas Police Lt. Jason Johannson calling video of the incident “void of humanity,” he contended that there “was no evidence the incident could be considered a hate crime,” KLAS reported.

“At least two other people believed to have been involved in the attack have not been identified, and the police department Tuesday night planned to circulate video of the pair with the hope someone would recognize them and come forward, Johansson said,” NBC News reported.

“Johansson said the fight was over stolen headphones and possibly a stolen marijuana vape pen that belonged to either Lewis or his friend. The friend had agreed to a fight in the alley after school, he said, but as the parties squared off, Lewis apparently stepped in to defend his friend and was attacked,” according to the report.

Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wondered if it was “worth it anymore” for people to be good Samaritans like Lewis, as she called out the silence in the media as well during a panel discussion on “The Five.”

All those involved in the incident were reportedly students of Rancho High School.

“Their actions have life-altering consequences,” Walsh said at the press conference.

While the facts of the brutal attack and the unnecessary death of Lewis are hard to take in, the facts not being discussed by media outlets in reporting have triggered an angry response from many who have wondered about the reaction if the races were switched.

Frieda Powers
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