After Preston Lord was discovered brutally assaulted on a street within a prosperous community in Queen Creek, a correlation was drawn between this incident and other brutal assaults in the southeastern region of the Valley.
Adolescents were engaging in random acts of violence against their peers, and in some cases, it appeared to be premeditated. These beatings took place at various venues where high school students congregated, such as fast-food establishments, parks, and parties.
The Arizona Republic initiated conversations with parents, youngsters, and community leaders to shed light on the situation. According to their accounts, a group known as the "Gilbert Goons" was responsible for a significant number of these attacks.

Here's what we know about the group.

Who are the 'Gilbert Goons'?

Concerned citizens have provided accounts of the Gilbert Goons, a group consisting of 20 or more individuals, primarily Caucasian teenagers from various high schools in the southeast Valley.

These residents assert that the Goons' acts of violence have escalated, employing threats and intimidation to ensure their victims remain silent. These concerns have been expressed through pleas to law enforcement, emails to school authorities, discussions in group chats, and public meetings.

Referred to as the "Gilbert Goonies" or simply the "Goonies," this group has been engaging in random assaults on teenagers for over a year. These attacks occur in mall parking lots, outside fast-food establishments, parks, and house parties, as revealed in interviews, court and police records, and social media posts.

According to records, the Goons employ brass knuckles, physically assault and kick their victims, and have even caused one boy to be hospitalized in 2022 with a cracked skull.
What are the 'Gilbert Goons' known for?