Three young adults face charges after a December assault in a Gilbert parking garage, raising new concerns about teen violence in the area, officials said Monday. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office reported that Gage Garrison, 19; Kyler Renner, 18; and Jack Woods, 17, have been indicted on aggravated assault charges stemming from the incident near Gilbert and Elliott roads on Dec. 3, FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
According to Arizona’s Family, Woods, who is being charged as an adult, faces one count of class three and class six aggravated assault, whereas Garrison and Renner each face one count of class six aggravated assault. The indictment is said to be separate from the ongoing investigations into other teen-related violence incidents, including the death of Preston Lord, a teen who died at a Halloween party last year.
The three were nabbed last month amid a spate of violent incidents involving teenagers. On the night of the assault, a group that included the victim left an In-N-Out restaurant after a disturbance and moved to the parking garage. Court documents allege they were approached and questioned by the accused about their earlier whereabouts, and despite the victim denying involvement in the previous commotion, the assault ensued. All the suspects were described as wearing black hats and one reportedly wielded brass knuckles.
Detailing the violence, court records say that after the victim was thrown to the ground, Woods allegedly held him down and continued to punch him. Garrison is accused of kicking and punching the victim during the onslaught, which has sent ripples of concern through the Gilbert community about the pattern of teen aggression in the area. This wave of violence has left many residents uneasy, hoping for quick justice and a stern response to discourage further incidents.
