East Valley and Maricopa County law enforcement officials are considering charging members of a teen group known as the "Gilbert Goons" with criminal street gang activity following a series of violent incidents, including the death of a 16-year-old boy, according to azfamily.com. With this label, sentences for convicted members could substantially increase if tied to the gang's actions, following Arizona's legal statute defining criminal street gangs, as stated by former Mesa Police gang detective Matt Browning, who is not investigating the current cases.
The string of thefts, assaults, and threats under scrutiny involves the fatal beating of Preston Lord, a junior varsity basketball player from Combs High School, leading authorities to investigate whether these episodes can be linked to the Gilbert Goons, a group of teens whose activities came under scrutiny after a witness statement cited recurring fights at a local In-N-Out burger joint but the cops never intervened; this escalation of events puts the pressure on law enforcement to define and dismantle what they suspect is an emergent gang culture in their jurisdiction.
The tragic assault on Preston Lord occurred after a Halloween party in Queen Creek got out of hand, with uninvited attendees from various high schools, according to the homeowner's account to azfamily.com; the boy's severe injuries led to his death at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, resonating shock and grief across the community, as families now grapple with the brutal loss of a teenager in such a violent manner.
The potential gang charges stem from investigations that highlight a pattern of behavior anchored in violence, with the Queen Creek Police Department appealing for public assistance in providing additional information or video footage as they await findings from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office; Phoenix attorney Benjamin Taylor told azfamily.com, "It’s just very disheartening to see this, and it’s one of the most horrific cases that you could see," emphasizing the serious legal repercussions for those involved, including possible murder charges, and for others, conspiracy, if not directly but complicit in the attack.
