It’s been nearly a year since teenager Preston Lord was beaten to death in a gang-style assault in Queen Creek.
Now Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is proposing greater penalties for participants of group violence. She wants to work with Arizona lawmakers to create a new category of crime called “swarming.”
“This is for the most part what we have been seeing in recent cases of teen violence. Three, four, five or more people targeting one person," Mitchell said.
Possible bill language would make an assault committed by three or more people a higher class felony, making it harder for charges to be reduced.
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