GILBERT, AZ — The Gilbert Goons fit the description of a "criminal street gang," police announced Thursday afternoon.
Gilbert police say they are being classified as a "hybrid gang" instead of a "traditional gang" because they lack formal leadership and other classifications.
Despite the announcement, police say at this point, no additional charges will be filed against any members related to gang affiliation.
Gilbert police also announced a second hybrid gang connected to the Goons called the "Jack Boy Mafia."
Watch the press conference in the player below:
The groups have been connected to several acts of violence against teens in the East Valley.
During a press conference, police provided the differences between a "traditional" street gang and a "hybrid" street gang.
East Valley law enforcement officials have been investigating incidents of teen violence over the last few years, including one attack that left Preston Lord dead in October 2023. So far the Gilbert Goons group has not been connected to Lord's death.
After Lord's death, several other incidents came to light in the East Valley involving separate teen violence occurrences.
After the deadly attack on Lord, ABC15 had pressed Gilbert police about an alleged group of people that was referenced as the “Gilbert Goons” on social media.
ABC15 asked the department about the "Gilbert Goons" in early November, but the department said they had no documentation.
In mid-December, the Gilbert Police Department finally acknowledged it was made aware of an alleged group possibly involved in some of the violence through social media references.
In January, Gilbert police announced a multi-agency investigation into teen violence incidents, including the East Valley Fusion Center.
However, ABC15 learned the East Valley Fusion Center says they were not made aware of the "Gilbert Goons" investigations. Both the Chandler and Mesa police departments, two departments that are part of the fusion center, told ABC15 they didn't learn about the "Gilbert Goons" until media reports. Mesa police referenced ABC15's report from mid-December.
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In March, ABC15 asked Chief Soelberg how many attacks he could tie to the group.
"So that investigation is still ongoing," said Chief Soelberg at the time. "I know everyone's waiting for that last piece of the puzzle."
Watch that extended one-on-one interview with Chief Soelberg in the video player below:
Have a news tip related to teen violence in the Valley? Email us at teenviolence@abc15.com.
