Eight students arrested after teenage 'hero' beaten to death in Las Vegas

Eight students were arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of murder after a teenager was beaten to death.

Las Vegas Police said the students ranged in age from 13 to 17 and investigators were working to identify two other teens believed to be involved in the Nov. 1 fight.

Jonathan Lewis, 17, died in hospital with severe “head trauma” a week after the attack, said homicide Lt. Jason Johansson.

Mr Johansson said the fight was staged after a pair of headphones and a vape pen were stolen from Jonathan's friend.

Investigators believe Jonathan was not supposed to be involved in the fight, but had accompanied his friend to a nearby alley, where the fight was supposed to take place after classes ended for the day at Rancho High School, in is from Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas coroner's office ruled the beating a homicide.

Mr. Johansson said the local FBI office assisted in the arrests Tuesday morning and that the other two students would also be charged with murder.

Students will not be identified due to their age. Mr. Johansson said he and his team were working with the local prosecutor's office to determine whether they would be charged with murder as adults.

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Jonathan's father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., said his son confronted the group after “one of his littlest friends” stole something from him and threw it in a trash can.

“Jonathan was a hero who was trying to help a smaller child who was being bullied and 15 people attacked him with cowardly violence and our beloved son was beaten to death,” he said in a statement posted on a fundraising page.

“Jonathan was a budding artist, a kind, loving, caring and generous young man who had his whole life ahead of him and he will always be loved and cherished, every day, every moment.”