Las Vegas teenager beaten to death by mob after standing up for bullied friend, his family says
A “courageous” teenager in the US was beaten to death when he confronted a mob over a friend who was being bullied, his family has said.
Jonathan Lewis, 17, was attacked by up to 15 people near a school in Las Vegas, according to reports.
The teenager had confronted the group after “one of his smaller friends” had something stolen from him and was thrown in a bin, a statement on a GoFundMe page said.
Writing on a website set up in his son’s name, Jonathan’s father – who is also called Jonathan Lewis – said he was “shocked by the immensity and horror of my beloved boy just being beaten to death”.
He told how he held the hand of his “beloved boy” in hospital during life support – and watched his son’s “life leave his body”.
“Jonathan was a hero who tried to help a smaller child who was being bullied and 15 people attacked him in cowardly violence and our beloved son was beaten to death,” a statement on the website said.
“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 teenager’s father, Jonathan Lewis, holding his son’s hand in hospital. Pic: GoFundMe
Read more from Sky News:
Five killed in house fire
Where will Storm Debi cause bad weather?
Man sleeping in underpass set alight
Mr Lewis said his mission was “to bring endless focus to solving the problems that were the root cause of why our children have become lost in violence and hate”.
The family said a foundation, called Team Jonathan, would be set up following his death.
Sky News has approached police in Las Vegas for comment.
Elon Musk says he has created a new political party – the America Party –
after asking his followers if he should do so in an online poll.
It follows his public falling out with Republican President Donald Trump.
On Friday, the billionaire had asked his followers on X whether a new US political party should be created.
On Saturday evening he wrote on the same platform: “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.
“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Trump threatens to ‘put DOGE’ on Musk
The world’s richest man made the announcement just one day after President Trump signed a tax-cut and spending bill into law on Friday, which Musk had fiercely opposed.
Musk had previously said we would form and fund a new political party to unseat lawmakers who supported the bill.
From bromance to bust-up
The Tesla boss backed Trump’s election campaign with more than a quarter of a billion dollars, later rewarded with a high profile role running the newly created department of government efficiency (DOGE).
But observers of the two men, both with huge wealth and reputations, wondered how long the bromance would last.
Donald Trump gave Musk a warm send-off in the Oval Office in May. Pic: Reuters
In May Musk left the role, still on good terms with Trump but criticising key parts of his legislative agenda.
After that, the attacks ramped up, with Musk slamming the sweeping tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination” and Trump hitting back in a barbed tit-for-tat.
Trump earlier this week threatened to cut off the billion-dollar federal subsidies that flow to Musk’s companies, and said he would even consider deporting him.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike