Gilbert Goons officially designated as a gang after terrorizing Arizona town ... trends now
The Gilbert Goons, a group of young men who have been terrorizing Phoenix suburbs for years, have finally been designated as a criminal street gang.
Following a months-long investigation into the gang, sparked by the killing of 16-year-old Preston Lord, embattled Gilbert police chief Michael Soelberg confirmed on Thursday the group functions as an organized criminal entity.
However, the official designation will not lead to new charges against the Goon suspects, because, as officials said, the violence committed by the group was not meant to strengthen the gang.
'Each of these law enforcement agencies here today have reviewed their investigations involving identified members of this gang, and based on the information available at this time, there is not sufficient evidence to submit additional charges of participating in or assisting a criminal street gang,' Soelberg said.
Soelberg was accompanied by representatives from four other police departments in the East Valley area that have dealt with the Goons' activities.
Following a months-long investigation into the group, embattled Gilbert police chief Michael Soelberg confirmed on Thursday the group functions as an organized criminal entity
The chief explained the Goons were classified as a 'hybrid gang,' because it relies on social media, its members are not of the same race and it has a 'lax or absent' code of conduct.
According to police, the Goons lack aspects of a traditional gang, including defined leadership and rules, specific use of symbols and colors, and lifelong commitments.
However, there is no legal difference between hybrid and traditional hangs, Soelberg added.
The Goons have been involved in at least 95 assaults in 18 attacks, most in Gilbert, as reported by the Arizona Republic.
Soelberg previously told DailyMail.com his department has made 29 arrests in connection to the attacks.
Earlier this month, the chief claimed in an exclusive interview that Gilbert did not have a teen violence issue.
Gilbert, a wealthy Phoenix suburb once billed as the country's second-safest city, has been in national news over the teen delinquents who have allegedly terrorized the community since as far back as 2022.
But Soelberg has said the videos of teen attacks and claims made by alleged victims about their reign of terror were not shared with police until after the fatal beating of Lord 16, at a Halloween party in October in nearby Queen Creek.
Seven teens and young men, including several Goons suspects, have been charged with his murder, sparking accusations from some in the community who believe the alleged killers should have been removed from the streets long ago.
One father, Rick Kuehner, claims he had been trying to get Gilbert police and school officials to protect his son
