What started as a celebration ended in unimaginable violence. Preston—an involved student known for his kindness, leadership, and drive—was brutally attacked outside the party over an alleged confrontation involving a stolen gold chain. He was left unconscious in the street. Two days later, he died from his injuries.
His death shocked the East Valley community, but the violence didn’t come out of nowhere. Preston’s attackers were part of a group known as the “Gilbert Goons”—a self-proclaimed crew of affluent teens who had been terrorizing others for months. They filmed beatings. They laughed. They shared it on social media like it was entertainment.
Some suspects also faced charges for aggravated robbery and previous assaults. Preston’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, not just against the teens, but their parents—and even the homeowners who hosted the party. They demanded accountability. And they weren’t alone.
But here’s what haunts me: this didn’t just happen to Preston.
The same month he was attacked, my own abuse began.
My sister—someone who was supposed to love and protect me—tried to run me over with a car. She filmed it like it was a joke. Like I was a joke. That same kind of mob mentality, that same dehumanization, unfolded in my life. Friends watched. Some joined in. Adults stood by. And just like Preston, I was left to survive what should have never happened.
What happened to Preston wasn’t a fight. It wasn’t “drama.”
Bullying isn’t just a schoolyard issue. It grows into something darker when it’s ignored—into groupthink, community betrayal, and violence with real, lasting consequences. Sometimes, it kills.
Preston’s story didn’t just inspire this movement—it fuels it. Every time someone says, “That’s just how kids are.” Every time silence wins. Every time cruelty is shared online like content.
We say: Enough.
The Echoes of Silence blog is our way of honoring stories like Preston’s—not just to remember, but to act. To break the silence. To hold systems accountable. To build tools that protect others before it’s too late.
We’re building the Echo Movement with the same bold energy you see in the world’s most forward-thinking platforms.
On September 10, 2025, America saw two school shootings in one day — one at Utah Valley University and another at Evergreen High School in Colorado. As Colorado relives the trauma of Columbine nearly three decades later, we must confront how bullying, trauma, and silence fuel cycles of violence that continue to devastate our schools.
On August 27, 2025, tragedy struck Minneapolis when a shooter opened fire during a school Mass at the Church of the Annunciation. Two children were killed, 18 others were injured, and countless lives were shattered. This was the 44th school shooting in the U.S. in 2025—a devastating reminder that our children are growing up in a world where violence echoes through classrooms, churches, and communities.
On June 4, 2024, 15-year-old Brandon Hatchell, a freshman at Darlington High School in South Carolina, was found dead in his home. His death has been ruled a suicide, and his family is now taking legal action against the Darlington County School District, alleging that ongoing bullying and negligence by school officials contributed directly to his death. The lawsuit claims that repeated reports of harassment were ignored, leaving Brandon feeling hopeless and unprotected.