Gilbert police ask public to help identify teen attackers in 5 beatings
Gilbert police are seeking the public's help in identifying individuals believed to have been involved in multiple teen violence cases.
As of Thursday, police have nine active investigations related to teen violence: four were reopened, and five were previously unreported to the department.
Help is being requested to identify individuals involved in two reopened investigations and three previously unreported ones, police said.
The move comes after an investigation by The Arizona Republic in December found the "Gilbert Goons," a gang of mostly affluent teenagers, had engaged in a string of blitz-style attacks on other teens in the southeast Valley for more than a year, according to interviews, court and police records, and social media posts.
The name "Gilbert Goons" originated with a Snapchat group chat, according to a Pinal County Sheriff's Office statement filed in a prosecution stemming from a Nov. 18, 2023, assault.
Most attacks occurred in Gilbert. Parents, students and community activists say members of the Goons were involved in the Oct. 28 fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord at a Halloween party in Queen Creek.
Timeline: Preston Lord investigation, 'Gilbert Goons' attacks stun Phoenix area
Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg initially said officers never connected the attacks because victims did not specifically mention "Gilbert Goons" — and the department did not have police reports associating the Goons "to any alleged criminal activity." In recent updates online, the department stated victims have since referred to their attackers as associated with the group.
One of the reopened cases is a Dec. 17, 2022, aggravated assault at a residence near Higley and Elliot Roads. Lori Nitzen's 16-year-old son was beaten with brass knuckles.
One teen was arrested. He was sentenced in April. But police on Thursday said they needed to identify additional people involved.
The second reopened case is the Aug. 18, 2023, beating of Richard Kuehner's then-16-year-old son at the Gilbert In-N-Out Burger. On Wednesday, police announced the arrests of four people in connection with the case: Christopher Fantastic, 18, and Aris Arredondo, 18, and two juveniles face aggravated assault and robbery charges. However, the case is still active, and officials are still working to identify others involved, police said.
The previously unreported investigations are all listed as aggravated assaults that took place on unknown dates, police said.
One occurred in a parking lot near Williams Field Road and Market Street, the second on a sidewalk near Guadalupe Road and Freestone Parkway, and the last at a parking garage near Gilbert Road and Vaughn Avenue.
Information related to the investigations can be reported directly to Gilbert police by calling 480-503-6500 or through the department's online tip site.
Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at [email protected] or 480-466-2265. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gilbert police ask public to help identify attackers in 5 beatings