A TEENAGE boy has died just days after allegedly being beaten to death by a pack of students.
Jonathan Lewis, 17, was allegedly attacked by a group of youths outside a Las Vegas high school on November 1 after trying to defend his friend.
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Horror footage shared on social media showed a mob rushing over appearing to assault Lewis near Rancho High School.
Lewis was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition as he was bleeding from the head before he died on November 7.
The boy’s father, also called Jonathan Lewis, has paid tribute and shared his last messages on a GoFundMe.
His final text message was: “Love you son.”
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Just a day before the alleged assault, Lewis had asked his father how much money was on his bank card, and thanked him when he was told the sum.
Jonathan said: “Our son is a kind, loving, gentle young man who has the heart of a champion and the brightest loving energy that attracts people to him with love!”
Lewis was a devoted big brother and a fierce protector of loved ones, according to his dad.
He wrote: “Love wins our son is a champion of love and family and the resilient spirit of human perseverance and will to be good and kind and loving!”
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The parent described his son as a "courageous young man."
Distressing footage of the incident has surfaced online and it appeared to show Lewis throwing a punch before he was swarmed on by the pack of youths.
At least 15 students were allegedly involved in the assault, according to the family.
The video showed the students rushing over to Lewis, with some appearing to kick and lash out.
Some of the students then scampered from the scene of the alleged assault as the footage cut out.
Lewis's girlfriend told his family that one of his friends had something stolen by the group of students and was thrown a trash can, prompting the teenager to confront them, per GoFundMe.
Jonathan told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "A couple [of people] attacked him, and they weren’t able to hurt him enough, and they all attacked him at once."
Las Vegas cops rushed to the scene and found a student who had been “battered and bleeding from the head,” per the Fox affiliate KVVU.
The Las Vegas Police Department has launched an investigation but no one has been arrested.
Jonathan said that cops have told family members that they plan to file charges.
He added: “Violence just begets more violence and these children don’t even know what they’re doing half the time.”
Jonathan revealed that his son was planning to move to Austin, Texas, to live with him.
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Lewis was also considering joining the military like his grandad.
The family set a target of raising $25,000 online, but they have exceeded that figure.
