Members of a wealthy Arizona gang known as the “Gilbert Goons” were arrested last week in connection with a series of violent attacks caught on video against teenagers.
Authorities in Gilbert, Arizona, arrested two men for their involvement in the gang beatings of high school students on Wednesday, and warned that additional arrests could be coming, The Arizona Republic reported.
The so-called “Gilbert Goons” have terrorized the community for more than a year and are reportedly involved in the Oct. 28 fatal beating of Preston Lord, a 16-year-old killed during a Halloween party.
Authorities arrested Jacob Pennington, 21, in connection with the brutal, videotaped beating of a 16-year-old high school student on Nov. 19, which took place just two weeks after Lord’s death.
Cellphone footage of that beating shows a group of attackers surrounding the victim, taking turns hitting and knocking the boy to the ground as he tries to escape.
The “Gilbert Goons” have reportedly been terrorizing the community for over a year. FOX 10
The attackers chase the victim and hit him with their feet and fists, knocking him against the cement, as the video shows.
The unidentified boy, who suffered minor injuries, was unable to identify his attackers, police said. According to Republic, Pennington has been identified in at least one other videotaped attack.
Police on Wednesday also confirmed the arrest of Christopher Fantastic, 18, who was involved in the Aug. 18 beating of a 16-year-old boy at Gilbert In-N-Out Burger.
Videos of the attacks show a group surrounding the victim and taking turns tackling him. FOX 10
Fantastic faces assault and robbery charges and was held on $25,000 bail, according to Republic.
There were other accomplices in the case, prosecutors said Wednesday, noting that the attack was one of several in Gilbert carried out by a group of people that includes Fantastic.
Records reviewed by The Republic indicate that three other people were cited Tuesday in the assault and released.
Christopher Fantastic, 18, was arrested Wednesday in connection with an Aug. 18 beating of a 16-year-old boy. FOX 10
One of those mentioned, Aris Arredondo, was listed as an adult while the other two were minors.
Following Fantastic’s arrest, the Gilbert City Council on Tuesday created a subcommittee to investigate teen violence, and Mayor Brigette Petersen said she was “gutted” by the issue.
Most of the gang’s attacks were unleashed in Gilbert and included similar victims and many of the same perpetrators, who would later share photos and videos of the beatings online, according to reports.
Aris Arredondo was cited in the attack and released. FOX 10
Police said they never connected the attacks because the victims never mentioned the gang. The group also did not have any police reports linking them to criminal activity.
Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg said officers are currently investigating nine active investigations related to teen violence, four of which are reopened cases.
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