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On Wednesday, the first arrests were made in connection with a series of brutal attacks on teenagers attributed to a group known as the 'Gilbert Goons.'

While the police hinted at the possibility of more arrests, the community is grappling with the aftermath of a recent surge in teen violence in Arizona.

The 'Gilbert Goons' have been allegedly responsible for a disturbing string of beatings and robberies. And residents are pleading for a broader regional effort between Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek to address the escalating issue of gang violence.

 The community began to suspect the crimes were linked following the fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord on October 28, allegedly at the hands of Goons members.

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Who are the Gilbert Goons?

An investigation by The Arizona Republic in December revealed that this gang, primarily composed of affluent teenagers, had been involved in attacks on other teens for over a year.

Individual Goons are linked to each other in social media posts, police reports and attack videos.

Faces that appear in clips of beatings and assaults also show up on Snapchat and Instagram posts. These teens pose with guns and other weapons, and they call themselves the Gilbert Goons.

All the connections and the social media posts pointed towards a pattern of violence that had previously gone unnoticed.

The recent arrest of 20-year-old Jacob Pennington sheds light on the group's activities.

Pennington, who claimed to be part of the 'Gilbert Goons,' was apprehended in connection with an incident on November 18, 2023.

The altercation, which took place in a desert area near Wagon Wheel Road and Sun Dance Drive in San Tan Valley, left a teen injured.

Pennington claimed that the fight began when he defended his female friend, allegedly hit by the victim.

Witnesses reported seeing Pennington repeatedly hitting the victim in the face, chasing him, and screaming racial slurs.

The victim managed to escape, sustaining minor injuries. An ongoing investigation suggests more arrests may follow.

More Arrests Expected

Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg acknowledged that the department had not connected the attacks earlier because victims did not explicitly mention the "Gilbert Goons," and there were no police reports associating the group with criminal activity.

During the Pennington case investigation, Gilbert Police announced another arrest.

Christopher Fantastic,18, was charged in connection with an assault and robbery incident that occurred in a parking lot in August 2023.

Both cases, though unrelated, emphasize the pressing need to address teen violence in the region.

Despite the arrests, no progress has been made in Preston Lord's murder case, and charges are yet to be filed. Queen Creek police identified seven individuals in the Lord case, withholding their identities and the nature of the charges.

In response to the community's concerns, city officials pledged a comprehensive push against groups like the 'Gilbert Goons.' Councilmember Matt Orlando assured residents that Chandler would lead the charge, promising collaborative efforts with neighboring cities to create a safer community.