A Nevada mother wants justice after a group of teens beat her 17-year-old son to death. The attack happened near a Las Vegas home on November 1, 2023. Several boys stomped, kicked, and punched Johnathan Lewis right after school. Someone filmed the brutal beating on video. Johnathan lost consciousness and later died at the hospital from severe head injuries. His mother, Melissa Ready, is now suing the school district and a homeowner for wrongful death and negligence.
Lawsuit Claims School Ignored Warning Signs and Took No Action
Melissa filed the lawsuit in District Court against the Clark County School District and Sandra Corona, the woman who owns the property where the fight took place. According to court papers, the fight happened right after school, near Rancho High School, in a location known for student violence. The area was described as a common spot for teens to gather and fight. The school district allegedly knew this, yet failed to provide security or alert police. The lawsuit also says the property owner should have done more to keep minors off her land and prevent violence. She did nothing to restrict access or increase safety, even though she knew what had happened there before. The tragic incident where the teen was killed showcases the negligence.
Four Teens Arrested but Transferred to Juvenile Court After Plea Deal
Police arrested four teens after the attack: Dontral Beaver (16), Damian Hernandez (18), Treavion Randolph (16), and Gianni Robinson (17). Prosecutors first charged them as adults. But in August 2024, all four accepted plea deals and had their cases moved to juvenile court. They admitted to manslaughter. Later, a judge sent them to juvenile detention for an undisclosed amount of time. The plea deals mean they will not face adult prison time. One defense lawyer said this gives his client the chance to finish school and start a better life. But to Melissa, who lost her teenage son, that’s not justice.
Fight Was Over Vape Pen and Headphones, Authorities Say
The police say the teens met in the alley to fight over stolen items. A vape pen and wireless headphones were taken from Johnathan’s friend. The teens agreed to settle it with violence. After the attack, a student and neighbor carried Johnathan back to the school. He was barely conscious. He died days later. His mother says the video of the attack will haunt their family forever. Her younger son, just five years old, will one day see that video. She called it heartbreaking and said the damage caused by the teen’s murder can never be undone.
School and Owner Knew the Risk, Lawsuit Alleges
Melissa’s lawsuit claims the school knew the boys who killed her son had been violent before. She says there were signs of tension before the deadly fight. At least one earlier altercation involved Johnathan or his friends. The school staff got warnings but did nothing to stop the trouble from growing. The lawsuit says the district had a duty to protect students, even just outside the school, especially right after dismissal. Melissa says the school and the property owner ignored real danger. She believes their failure led to her son’s death.
Mother Speaks Out Against Lenient Sentences for the Attackers
Melissa showed up in court during one of the hearings. She wore a T-shirt with her son’s photo and spoke directly to one of the teens: they treated her son like trash and took away the greatest joy in her life. She said the punishment was too soft and didn’t match the crime. She’s angry because the court treated the boys as juveniles. She believes the justice system should have charged them as adults. She says no one truly faces punishment for her son’s murder after this tragic event where a group of teens killed him.
DA Says Juvenile Court Offers Justice and Rehabilitation
District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he understands the mother’s pain. He said she was told about the plea deal and its terms. He claims juvenile court is the best place to handle the teens. It punishes them while also giving them a second chance. Under Nevada law, teens 13 and older can be charged as adults for murder. But that decision depends on the case. In this case, all four teens will now serve time in juvenile detention, not adult prison. Melissa is not satisfied with the plea deals for the teens who killed her son. She wants stronger consequences and real accountability.
