GILBERT, Ariz. — Editor's note: This article may contain images and details that could be disturbing to some readers. Discretion advised.
The victim in a violent teen assault case is calling on Arizona lawmakers to make a change. Connor Jarnagan, 17, wrote a letter to elected officials asking them to consider banning or limiting the use of brass knuckles after his scalp had to be stapled back together when he was attacked by a teen using the weapon.
Dec. 30, 2022 assault causes significant injuries
On the night of Dec. 30, 2022, Jarnagan went to the Gilbert In-N-Out and was approached by a group of 11-15 teenagers in the parking lot. One of them complimented Jarnagan's car and then demanded money from him.
Jarnagan refused. Records show the suspect then reached into Jarnagan's car and attempted to take the keys out of the ignition. The suspect then punched Jarnagan in the back of the head while wearing brass knuckles.
The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The gash left in Jarnagan's head required staples.
In early October, months after his attack, Jarnagan wrote a letter to East Valley lawmakers, asking them to consider proposing legislation that would ban or limit the use of brass knuckles in Arizona.
"I'm hoping both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats alike, can come together on this issue and help make Arizona a safer place without providing teens and other criminals easy access to a deadly weapon like brass knuckles. Unlike guns, which can be used for hunting, brass knuckles have no redeeming purpose other than to hurt people," Jarnagan wrote.
Jarnagan wants to prevent what happened to him from happening to anyone else.
“I believe we could make our communities safer and work together to educate people about the dangers of this weapon," he wrote. “There is no redeeming value for brass knuckles – they add nothing to our communities in Arizona besides contributing to violent crime and providing disturbed teens and adults with a weapon that can kill someone.”
Jarnagan received two responses to his letter.
One was from State Representative Julie Willoughby (R-LD 13). She said she wasn't aware of any cases involving brass knuckles.
"I have reached out to the local police and inquired about cases that they have that involved brass knuckles or anything similar to those items. There are no records within the last two years," Willoughby wrote.
Willoughby suggested that Jarnagan encourage others to report the incidents.
State Representative Jennifer Pawlik told Jarnagan she already had her bills planned out for this session and suggested he reach out to a Republican to be the prime sponsor.
December 17, 2022 assault
Jarnagan wasn't the first teenage victim to be assaulted by a suspect using brass knuckles.
According to juvenile court records obtained by 12News, the same suspect who attacked Jarnagan attacked another teen less than two weeks prior.
On December 17, 2022, Gilbert PD was called to a home for a report of around a hundred juveniles fighting. One teen was found injured inside.
He had a black eye and a bloody nose. He had been assaulted by a suspect using brass knuckles.
Records show it was the same suspect who would assault Jarnagan later that month.
May 2023 assault
In May, Kevin Durkin, 15, was assaulted by a suspect using brass knuckles outside In-N-Out at Desert Ridge.
“Four of his bottom teeth were knocked out and one of his top front teeth was shoved back in,” said Brett Durkin, Kevin's dad.
Kevin and his friends were leaving the parking lot when someone came up and sucker-punched him in the mouth. He and his parents went to the hospital where he was covered in blood.
He had recently had his braces taken off. He ultimately needed surgery to repair the damage done by the brass knuckles.
Lawmaker says there's "no reason" for brass knuckles to be legal
State Senator John Kavanagh (R-LD 23) said he was surprised to learn that brass knuckles were legal in Arizona.
"In many states, brass knuckles, and similar items, which can only be used as an offensive weapon, like blackjacks and lead gloves are illegal," Kavanagh said.
12News reached out to Democrat and Republican lawmakers in the State Senate and House of Representatives for comment about the legality of brass knuckles.
So far, no lawmaker in the East Valley has agreed to speak with 12News about the issue.
Kavanagh said he could write a bill addressing this issue as soon as next week. He called brass knuckles' legality an oversight in the law.
“I don't picture anybody other than organized crime and criminals who would want to legalize such offensive weapons that have no place in self-defense and give self-defense a bad name," Kavanagh said.
Gilbert subcommittee wants brass knuckles limited
On Thursday, the Town of Gilbert's newly created teen violence subcommittee met for the first time. One of the first ideas on the table was to work with the legislature to limit the sale of brass knuckles.
"I really believe that they should be controlled for minors," said Councilman Chuck Bongiovanni.
12News asked Gilbert PD Chief Michael Soelberg, whose department has investigated several of these cases, if he would support that.
“More than willing to work with the legislators on that bill or whatever they come up with to help us reduce crime," Soelberg said.