LOGIN

Court Mandates No Bail for Four High School Students in Las Vegas Classmate’s Fatal Assault

by Michael Nguyen
2 comments
Las Vegas High School Assault

Court Mandates No Bail for Four High School Students in Las Vegas Classmate’s Fatal Assault

At their initial adult court appearances on Friday, four out of eight high school students from Las Vegas, who were implicated in the fatal beating of a classmate, were ordered to remain in custody without bail. These hearings addressed the custody status of two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds, all of whom are scheduled for another court session next week.

While each of the students faces a murder charge, formal charges are yet to be filed, as per court documents. The identities of these juveniles are withheld by The Big Big News.

The remaining four suspects, all under 16, are pending separate hearings.

The Las Vegas Police Department earlier announced the arrest of these eight students, aged 13 to 17, for their involvement in the Nov. 1 fight, which resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis Jr.

The altercation, which occurred in an alley near Rancho High School in eastern Las Vegas, was reportedly over a pair of wireless headphones and a vape pen. Captured on a cellphone and shared extensively on social media, the fight is still under investigation as police seek to identify and apprehend two additional students involved.

In court, a prosecutor mentioned that two students implicated in the assault remain at large. Under Nevada law, teenagers 16 and older charged with murder are automatically tried in adult court, leading to the transfer of the four students’ cases by a family court judge.

Daniel Martinez, a special public defender appointed for one of the 16-year-old defendants, indicated his client’s intention to plead not guilty and plans to request his release at the upcoming hearing.

For the younger suspects, future certification proceedings will determine if they will face adult charges. In Nevada, a teenager 13 or older at the time of an alleged murder can be charged as an adult.

According to Police Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson, the conflict stemmed from the theft of the headphones and vape pen from the victim’s friend. Johansson detailed that the victim, initially not meant to be part of the fight, accompanied his friend to the location post-school.

Jonathan Lewis Sr., the victim’s father, described on a fundraising page how his son was assaulted while defending his friend, but has not given an interview.

The video of the incident, as described by Johansson, shows Lewis Jr. preparing to fight before being overwhelmed and viciously attacked by the group, an act Johansson condemned as “very void of humanity.”

After the assault, a bystander found Lewis Jr. severely injured and unconscious, and transported him back to the school, where emergency services were alerted. The victim succumbed to severe head trauma and other injuries a week later, as confirmed by the Las Vegas coroner’s office.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Las Vegas High School Assault

What happened in the Las Vegas high school assault case?

Four high school students in Las Vegas were held without bail after being accused of fatally beating a classmate. The altercation, which occurred near Rancho High School, involved a dispute over stolen wireless headphones and a vape pen. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, led to the arrest of eight students aged between 13 and 17. The four older teens appeared in adult court, facing potential murder charges.

How are the juvenile suspects being processed in the legal system?

The two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds involved are being tried in the adult court system, as Nevada law dictates that teenagers 16 or older accused of murder are automatically transferred to adult court. The remaining four suspects, under the age of 16, await separate hearings to determine if they will be tried as adults. A teenager in Nevada can be charged as an adult for murder if they are 13 or older at the time of the alleged crime.

What are the next steps in the court proceedings for these suspects?

The four teens who appeared in adult court are scheduled for another hearing to address their custody status. Their public defender plans to argue for their release and plead not guilty if formal charges are brought. Separate hearings will decide whether the younger suspects will face adult charges. The case continues with ongoing investigations, including the search for two additional students implicated in the assault.

More about Las Vegas High School Assault

You may also like

2 comments

JournalismFan89 November 18, 2023 - 2:56 pm

This is terrible! hope those teens get justice!!

Reply
CuriousReader November 18, 2023 - 5:03 pm

How sad, young lives ruined. Good summary, thanks!

Reply

Leave a Comment

BNB – Big Big News is a news portal that offers the latest news from around the world. BNB – Big Big News focuses on providing readers with the most up-to-date information from the U.S. and abroad, covering a wide range of topics, including politics, sports, entertainment, business, health, and more.

Editors' Picks

Latest News