The Gilbert Goons are a group of at least twenty white, upper-middle-class teenagers who attend several high schools in the southeast Valley, according to concerned locals.
Residents report that these attacks have grown more violent, and that they have used intimidation and threats to keep their victims quiet in emails to school administrators, group chat posts, and public meetings.
Is Gilbert Goons Arrested?
In relation to a troubling robbery and assault that happened in Gilbert last year, there have been arrests made. On January 9, the Gilbert Police declared that 18-year-old Christopher Fantastic had been placed under arrest for his purported role in the incident that happened on August 18, 2023, in a parking lot close to Williams Field Road and Market Street.
To add to the severity of the crimes, Fantastic has been charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault along with two other people, 18-year-old Aris Arredondo and two juveniles, 16 years old.
The arrests are an important first step toward resolving the community’s safety concerns in Gilbert and send a clear message that law enforcement will not tolerate illegal activity and will act swiftly and decisively in response. The Gilbert Police are committed to pursuing justice in this case to the fullest extent, as evidenced by the ongoing investigation.
It’s also significant that the investigation is independent and distinct from another ongoing investigation concerning Preston Lord’s death in Queen Creek, highlighting the all-encompassing approach authorities have adopted in addressing a variety of incidents in the area.
Who is Gilbert Goons?
Following a string of unsettling incidences of teenage violence in Gilbert, the term “Gilbert Goons” has emerged, drawing increased attention from the community and law enforcement. The Gilbert Town Council decided to form a teen violence subcommittee at the same time that 18-year-old Christopher Fantastic was recently arrested for allegedly being involved in an assault and robbery incident.
Michael Soelberg, the chief of police in Gilbert, revealed that there are nine ongoing investigations into teen violence, revealing five incidents that had not been reported to the authorities before.
Although the Gilbert Police did not formally link the Aug. 18 incident to the “Gilbert Goons” group at first, new information indicates that there is an increasing emphasis on people who identify as members of this group or who self-proclaim to be such.
The Arizona Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) and other authorities are working together to conduct a thorough investigation into anyone claiming or being affiliated with the “Gilbert Goons.”
The goal of the investigation is to ascertain whether the organization qualifies under Arizona law as a criminal street gang, underscoring the gravity with which law enforcement is handling this possible risk to public safety.
Investigations in Gilbert Goons Case
Arrests resulting from recent developments in the investigation into attacks by the “Gilbert Goons” have brought attention to the previously unrestrained violence.
Three adults and two juveniles connected to assaults on high school students were taken into custody by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and Gilbert Police, as first reported in a December investigation by The Arizona Republic.
There’s a chance that more people will be prosecuted for their roles in the gang beatings; authorities, including police and prosecutors, have confirmed that these arrests are only the start.
The “Gilbert Goons,” wealthy youths involved in violent behavior for more than a year, are suspected of carrying out a string of beatings in southeast Valley communities that have been captured on camera.
This coincides with the arrests. Parents, students, and community activists worry that Goons members were also involved in the fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek, even though the recent arrests might be a step in the right direction.
The complexity and urgency of ongoing investigations are underscored by the questions that remain about the extent of this group’s criminal activities and the potential legal ramifications in Arizona as authorities attempt to break down the connections within it.
Source: www.Ghgossip.com
