Posted on: December 18, 2023, 08:33h.

Last updated on: December 18, 2023, 08:33h.

Four of the nine teenagers who allegedly participated in the fatal attack of a Las Vegas high school student say they acted in self-defense.

The victim, rather than the defendants, threw the first punch in the fight which took place in an alley near the Rancho High School campus, attorneys in the case revealed last week. Also, the murder victim’s friend was armed with a knife, defense attorneys claim, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

But the Nov. 1 deadly kicking and beating of Jonathan Lewis Jr., 17, led to him to lie defenseless on the ground as the kicks and punches continued. The gang of students even stomped on his head, authorities said.

Lewis passed away a week after the fight. An autopsy revealed he died from blunt force trauma to his head and other parts of his body.

911 Call

In a recently released 911 call, a witness reported minutes after the attack how Lewis was seriously injured, and that a school nurse and other staff members tried to perform CPR.

“They’re saying that somebody jumped the student, and the student is unconscious. He is breathing, but he’s unconscious,” the caller told a dispatcher, KLAS reported.

There is bleeding on his head, he has bumps on his head, and there’s scratches on his elbows,” the caller revealed. “He’s bleeding from his nose and, his face is turning blue.”

No Bail

So far, a Las Vegas Justice Court judge hearing the case refused to set bail for the four defendants. They are Damien Hernandez, Gianni Robinson, Dontral Beaver, and Treavion Randolph. Each is charged with second-degree murder.

The defendants — who are either 16 or 17 years of age — are being held in juvenile detention facilities even though they will be tried in adult courts.

Five other arrested juveniles could be charged as adults, too. A tenth possible suspect could be arrested, too. Each of the 10 suspects attended Rancho High School, authorities said.

The fatal beating began over stolen wireless headphones, and possibly, a vape pen, according to KLAS. A mob of teens stole the items from a younger kid and threw them into a trash can, USA Today reported.

Lewis chose to defend his smaller friend and soon was attacked.

Lewis died after being treated in the intensive care unit at University Medical Center. He was on life support for days before his death.