GILBERT, Ariz. (AP) — Police in the East Valley region have been investigating a series of violent assaults on teenagers in recent months, with the latest incident taking place on August 18th outside an In-N-Out restaurant in Gilbert.
An arrest has been made in connection with the assault and robbery that left the juvenile victim hospitalized. Christopher Fantastic, 18, was taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the attack, where a group of people reportedly beat and robbed a minor.
The victim’s father revealed that the attack resulted in his son being taken to the emergency room and later sent overseas to live with his mother due to safety concerns. During Fantastic’s court appearance, a representative for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office stated that the August incident was a planned attack allegedly carried out in retaliation.
Authorities requested a $100,000 bond for Fantastic due to concerns about the safety of the community and the suspect’s ties to a particular group, but Fantastic was ultimately given a $25,000 bond.
The August incident is just one in a string of cases involving teen violence in the East Valley, including the fatal injuries sustained by 16-year-old Preston Lord during a Halloween party in Queen Creek. The Gilbert Police Department has disclosed that they are currently investigating at least eight incidents related to teen violence in the area.
In light of these troubling developments, the community is on high alert as law enforcement continues to address the issue of escalating teen violence in the East Valley.