Headphones and a Vape Pen – Juvenile Crime

Sennheiser HD-25-1 headphones, Author Bizzarle (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)

WARNING:  Graphic Images

Eight Las Vegas teens have been charged with murder, in connection with the beating death of a classmate widely distributed on social media [1].  The assailants range in age from 13 y.o. to 17 y.o.  Their victim, Jonathan Lewis Jr., was 17 y.o.  The altercation was apparently about headphones and a vape pen.

It is difficult to say which aspect of this crime is most disturbing:  the age of the victim whose life was taken, the age of his assailants and their relationship to him, the trivial cause for this violence, or the fact the crime was shared on social media.

Causes of  Violence

Most of us assume that children are incapable of violence, certainly incapable of murder.   We are shocked when confronted with the facts.

In 2020, there were 930 arrests made nationally for murder or manslaughter where the perpetrator was 17 y.o. or younger [2A].   There were 19,140 arrests made for aggravated assault in that age range, and another 70, 940 made for simple assault [2B].

Gang dynamics, the psychology of crowds, and peer pressure all have bearing on the crime here.  Abuse is likely, also, to have played a role.

A.  Gangs

Gang violence in the United States emerged as early as 1783.  In New York City, in particular, gangs were well organized by 1826 [3].

Dangerous street gangs, outlaw motorcycle clubs, organized crime (once actually termed gangland), and drug cartels are all representative of this underworld culture.  Little has changed with time, except that drugs have been added to the mix.

Teens and young men are known to have been participants from the start (though girls and young women are not immune to the lure).  Depending on age, young people serve as messengers, look-outs, bagmen, thieves, and thugs (some later specializing as enforcers or hitmen).

Although gangs may thrive on violence, they provide a sense of acceptance, security, inclusion, and identity to their members [4].  In effect, they substitute for the family structure many young people lack.

B.  Crowds and Peer Pressure

It is well recognized that human beings will do in a crowd what they might never do alone [5].  The bounds of acceptable behavior are more easily transgressed in a group.  Personal responsibility is abandoned.  Morals are swept aside in the frenzy of the moment.

This applies to young people even more so than adults.  Still trying to decide who they are, anxious to fit in, teens and pre-teens are more susceptible than adults to peer pressure.

C.  Abuse

It is estimated that 10% – 20% of children are exposed to domestic violence annually, and that fully a third are exposed to it sometime during childhood or adolescence [6].

According to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, approximately 3.8 million referrals were made to child protective agencies for abuse and neglect in 2020 [7].

Children exposed to violence in the home or the victims of such violence are at serious risk for mental and physical health issues, and may be at greater risk of becoming violent, themselves [8].

Based on these statistics, there is every reason to believe that some of the assailants involved in this altercation had been exposed to violence before.

Shared Violence

Clearly, this crime was thrilling for these young assailants, even a source of pride, since they willingly shared it on social media.  That is an indication of how inured to violence our society has become, and how devoid of real connection many of our young people are.

Responsibility for Violence

Even minors need to be held accountable for their actions.  But adults must take ultimate responsibility for juvenile crime.

We are the ones failing to provide our children necessary guidance and supervision.  We are the ones creating violent programming and video games, then marketing those products to our young people.  In the real world, we are the ones engaging in and perpetuating violence.

Biblical View on Violence

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (Mark 7: 21-22).

The Bible views the human heart as inherently wicked.

That may sound old-fashioned and out of date.  In truth, it is a profound explanation for the persistence of evil throughout history.  No society has been exempt.

God does offer us a way out.  But His way requires genuine repentance on our part, a change of heart and a change of behavior.  Until that occurs, our youth will continue to be at risk.

—

[1]  LA Times, “8 Las Vegas teens face murder charges in classmate’s beating death” by Rio Yamat, 11/17/23, https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-11-17/eight-las-vegas-teens-murder-charges-classmate-death.

[2A and 2B]  Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), “Statistical Briefing Book – 2020”, https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/ucr.asp?table%20in=2.

[3]  Sage Publications, “History of Gang Violence in the United States”, https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/43455_1.pdf.

[4]  New York University Publishing, Steinhardt Applied Psychology Opus, “Gang Involvement as a Means to Satisfy Basic Needs” by Laina Sonterblum, https://wp.nyu.edu/steinhardt-appsych_opus/gang-involvement-as-a-means-to-satisfy-basic-needs/.

[5]  Wikipedia, “Crowd psychology”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowd_psychology.

[6]  Resource Center on Domestic Violence:  Child Protection and Custody, “Rates of Child Abuse and Child Exposure to Domestic Violence”, https://www.rcdvcpc.org/rates-of-child-abuse-and-child-exposure-to-domestic-violence.html.

[7]  Children’s Bureau, “Child Maltreatment 2020”, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/cm2020.pdf#page=34.

[8]  US Dept. of Health and Human Services, “Effects of domestic violence on children”, https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-violence/effects-domestic-violence-children.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com