Amid rising violence involving teens and brass knuckles in the East Valley, Arizona, a courageous teen survivor is stepping forward to advocate for legal reforms. Connor Jarnagan, recently targeted in a brutal assault, is pushing for legislation that will ban or limit the use of brass knuckles after he was jumped outside an In-N-Out in Gilbert, sustaining severe injuries.
According to ABC15, 17-year-old Jarnagan was attacked by a group of teens in December 2022. He recounted, "We noticed a group of about 10 to 12 kids approaching us, and at first they were really nice." However, the situation quickly escalated when they demanded money and attempted to enter his car, culminating in Jarnagan getting struck in the head with brass knuckles. Recalling the attack, Jarnagan told ABC15, "I think it was kind of a God thing that I wasn't hit there — an inch to the left I could have been killed or paralyzed."
The same assailant involved in Jarnagan's case had assaulted another teen with brass knuckles just weeks before, revealing a disturbing pattern of violence in the community. Jarnagan, drawing strength from his faith and support from community members, has directed his efforts towards creating a change in the legislation to prevent future incidents.
During a meeting where the Gilbert Town Council heard updates on teen violence, Jarnagan's initiative received public support. In a statement to ABC15, Sen. John Kavanagh confirmed his office is crafting a bill to address the issue. "If we can do a little bit of a good out of a bad situation then that's really all we want to do, is find kind of find a light in the dark place we are in right now," said Jarnagan.
Jarnagan’s activism goes beyond working with legislators; he has also encouraged the public to help by writing to their lawmakers. A website has been created to facilitate support for Jarnagan's cause, allowing members of the community to sign a petition backing the legislative push against the possession and use of brass knuckles in Arizona.
