Tyler Freeman sentenced to 3 years for 'Gilbert Goons' attacks

An 18-year-old visibly shook in court after prosecutors explained what he did during and after “Gilbert Goon’s” brass knuckle attacks that left teenagers in hospital.

During a sentencing hearing Friday, prosecutors showed abuse videos of Tyler Freeman and played recorded phone conversations in which he joked about raping teenagers in juvenile detention, plotted revenge on others and cursed Preston Lord.

“Tell him I said Preston Lord,” Freeman said in a phone call this year, referring to the 16-year-old who was fatally beaten in a gang attack on Oct. 28, 2023. “He’s a (expletive).”

Freeman apologized to the court, saying the person he was then was not the person he is now. The videos and phone calls were embarrassing to watch, he said.

“I want to be a better person,” Freeman said. “I want to be able to prove to the victims that I am a changed person. And I am truly sorry for what I did.”

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen heard Freeman and sentenced him to three years in prison, followed by four years of intensive probation in connection with two assault charges beginning in late 2022.

“You disregarded those you loved, those you harmed. You failed to consider your family and the pain they so clearly suffered,” Cohen told him. “You have shown no regard for all the people in Gilbert who are suffering.”

A December survey by The Arizona Republic first linked Lord’s murder to the Goons, a gang of teenagers who recorded their violent attacks on teenagers in parks and parking garages, outside fast-food restaurants and at house parties. They shared images in group chats and on social media.

The attacks, mainly in Gilbert, went unchecked by authorities for more than a year.

Freeman was supported in court by his family, who solemnly shook their heads as prosecutors laid out the evidence.

His mother told Cohen that her son’s life spiraled around the time of the attacks, but said he was a good person who now wants a fresh start.

“What was played was terrible, but he took responsibility,” said Dawn Freeman, choking up tears. “I know his heart.”

Cohen asked Freeman to explain some of the comments he made during the prison sentences, including those about Lord.

Freeman said he became angry after his ex-girlfriend told him someone else had verbally abused him. The person was friends with Lord, he said, so he wanted to lash out. Freeman acknowledged that he shouldn’t have said it – at the time he thought it would make him feel better.

Freeman also explained the origins of the Goons, who have been classified by authorities as a criminal street gang. Freeman described it as a group of friends.

He made some friends in high school, he said, and wanted to impress them for having drugs. They hung out in high school and he said they liked him more after he and others got into a fight.

“I liked the attention I got,” Freeman said.

Everything changed for him after he heard what it was like to be hit with brass knuckles, he said, and learned that a brass knuckle attacks the victim: Connor Jarnaganhad forgiven him.

“When I heard that, I remember just crying because if the tables were turned, I wouldn’t have forgiven myself,” Freeman said. “I would try to get revenge.”

Gilbert police were unable to link the teen’s assault to a group of assailants

Freeman was convicted in 2023 of two assaults that Gilbert police were unable to link to the Goons.

Police and prosecutors treated Freeman as an individual attacker in the two boxing cases, although they noted in reports at the time that the attacks involved groups of teenagers.

At the time, police said Freeman and his friends committed “unprovoked attacks” on random strangers. The teen also acknowledged “multiple incidents where he left the house intending to attack people for no reason.”

Freeman was held for nearly three months before being placed on probation and ordered to spend five months in a behavioral health facility.

A report obtained by The Republic in June indicated that Gilbert police had investigated Freeman’s attacks obtained evidence that the Goons had bragged about attacking “30+” people months before Lord was murdered, but dismissed it as unfounded.

Prosecutors shared some of that evidence — Snapchat messages — during Friday’s hearing. Among them was Freeman who told his friends that they should go on a cop killing spree and become an official gang already.

Freeman convicted of Goons attacks at In-N-Out Burger house party

Freeman’s attorney said his client’s case is unusual because new arrests overlapped with his youth rehabilitation efforts. Freeman was making progress in his recovery when he was arrested and charged as an adult on other assault charges, he said.

“He has been punished for something that predates all the work he did and all the crimes he committed that landed him in juvenile court, which is not the usual progression,” Gregory Zamora said after the hearing.

Police arrested Freeman this year in connection with four assaults dating back to 2022, but he was only charged in two cases. He pleaded guilty to both counts in August.

House party crime ‘Gilbert Goons’, November 2022: 4 arrests

Nine people attacked a teenager outside a house party near Higley and Riggs roads. Brass knuckles were used. In January 2024, four people were arrested.

On November 22, 2022, a victim was beaten after asking some people to leave a house party in Gilbert. The attack was filmed and nine people surrounded the teenager, taking turns punching and kicking him.

The attack was not reported until January 4, 2024. Police arrested Freeman, William Owen Hines, 18, Jacob Meisner, 17, and Kyler Renner, 19. Hines has not entered a plea; Meisner admitted his role and was placed on probation. Renner has not been charged.

Hines and Meisner are among them seven charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the murder of Heer. All have pleaded not guilty.

Freeman was also charged in connection with an assault in the parking lot of Gilbert In-N-Out Burger on December 2, 2022.

That beating was also recorded. In one clip, Freeman challenges someone to a fight by saying, “Come at me, (expletive).” He starts throwing multiple punches as others jump in. Another 26-second clip shows the victim being dragged, pushed and punched by multiple assailants among a crowd of teenagers.

‘Gilbert Goons’ In-N-Out gang assault, December 2022: 3 arrests

Seven people were involved in an attack that left several victims injured. Brass knuckles were used. In January 2024, three people were arrested.

Police responded to a “fight call” that evening but left after saying they could find no evidence of a fight. They launched a new investigation in January after receiving videos of the attack.

Three people told police they had been assaulted during the gang attack, but only one was willing to press charges. He said Freeman hit him with brass knuckles.

Freeman, Hines and Jacob Pennington, 21, were arrested and charged in the attack. Hines did not enter a plea and Pennington pleaded guilty and received probationary period of three years.

Cohen convicted Freeman separately in each assault case.

In the house party attack, he ordered Freeman to serve three years for attempted aggravated assault and to serve two and a half years concurrently for aggravated assault.

For the In-N-Out attack, Cohen sentenced Freeman to four years of intensive probation after his release from prison.

The judge told Freeman he was lucky in one respect.

“I think you’re lucky that you’re not one of the co-defendants in another case that I have before me that faces much more significant results,” Cohen said. “It is not for lack of effort as your behavior could easily have resulted in death. Just like their behavior did.”

Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her out [email protected]. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.

Robert Anglen is an investigative journalist for The Republic. Reach him out [email protected]. Follow him on X @robertanglen.