Photo: GoFundMe
Four teenagers involved in the fatal beating of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis Jr. outside a Las Vegas high school last November have reached a plea deal that spares them from facing adult murder charges, according to recent reports.
On Thursday, Aug. 1, Damien Hernandez, 17, Dontral Beaver, 16, Gianni Robinson, 17, and Treavion Randolph, 16, agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the case, as reported by Fox 5 Las Vegas, citing court documents.
The teens, who were minors at the time of the incident, will now be sentenced in juvenile court rather than adult court, the Associated Press confirmed. The arrests stemmed from a disturbing incident captured on social media, where Lewis was assaulted by multiple individuals outside Rancho High School on Nov. 1, 2023. Las Vegas Metro Police Lt. Jason Johansson described the attack during a press conference, stating, “What you see in the video though is approximately ten subjects kicking, stomping and punching our victim Jonathan as he’s on the ground, not defending himself until the point where he becomes unconscious.”
Reports suggest the altercation may have been sparked by a dispute over stolen wireless headphones and possibly a marijuana vape pen. Lewis sustained fatal blunt force trauma injuries and was pronounced brain dead six days after the assault. His death was later ruled a homicide.
In response to the plea deal, Lewis’ mother, Mellisa Ready, expressed outrage, asserting that her son did not receive justice. “You cannot jump in a human being’s head, stomp on him, and think that they’re going to remain alive after,” she told 8 News Now. “They knew he was going to die, and that’s how I feel – and they’re letting them get away with murder.”
Robinson’s defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, highlighted that the agreement includes provisions to seal records related to the case and the teens involved, Previously, four other teens connected to the incident had pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in juvenile court. The status of the ninth suspect remains unclear.
The case has sparked significant community concern and calls for justice, with Lewis remembered by his family as someone who bravely stood up for others. His father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., described him as “a hero [who] was trying to defend his friend” in a GoFundMe campaign following his death.
The plea deal underscores complex legal considerations regarding juvenile versus adult sentencing for serious offenses, raising ongoing debates about accountability and justice in cases involving young offenders.
Overall, the resolution of this tragic case leaves a community grappling with profound loss and seeking assurances that justice has been served in the most appropriate manner possible under the law.
