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QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. - Oct. 28 marks two years since 16-year-old Preston Lord was beaten at a Halloween party, a night that ultimately took his life and shook the entire East Valley community.
On Tuesday, family, friends, and community members gathered outside the Queen Creek Police Department to "light the night" for the slain teen. Attendees were asked to wear orange — Preston Lord’s favorite color.
What they're saying:
Dozens of supporters, including Lord's father and stepmother, were in attendance.
"We gather here today to remember a life taken far too soon, a teenager whose story should have never ended this way," said Lord's stepmother, Melissa Ciconte.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell released a statement noting the continued legal pursuit: "Our office continues to pursue criminal charges against six defendants accused of his murder. While seeking justice through prosecution, we have also worked to strengthen Arizona law by increasing penalties for the kind of swarming violence that led to Preston's death."
Continued Concerns About Teen Violence
While the community holds annual gatherings to ensure Lord is not forgotten, leaders acknowledge that teen violence persists.
"Two years later, I have hope. I have some sadness about what happened. But I think we've made a lot of progress together," said Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice.
However, Brice admitted that the problem continues to change. "We continue to see symptoms of teen violence. It continues to morph in different ways. And as we change our tactics, they change their tactics," he said, citing e-bikes as the latest trend involved in teen violence.
Youth mental health advocate Katey McPherson, who has focused on teen violence since Lord's death, agrees. "I don't think the violence has stopped, unfortunately... but the awareness and education for parents and community members, school leaders is definitely, you know, everybody is much more aware of what's going on."
McPherson noted a recent incident where a group of 200 kids gathered at a Chandler In-N-Out, resulting in a minor being arrested for assault after hitting a walker.
Ciconte said the issue extends beyond her family's pain.
"Preston's loss is not just our family's heartbreak. It's a reflection of a deeper issue that touches us all. Youth violence isn't distant. It lives in our neighborhoods, our schools and in our silence."
The backstory:
According to previous reports, the incident that ultimately led to Lord's death happened on the night of Oct. 28.
Preston Lord (file)
According to Queen Creek Police Department officials at the time, they received a 911 call regarding an assault in the area of 194th Street and Via Del Rancho, and when officers arrived at the scene, they found Lord in the roadway.
"He was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Monday, Oct. 30, he passed away in the hospital," Queen Creek police officials said at the time.
In the aftermath of Lord's death, seven people were arrested in connection with the incident. They are:
- Treston Billey
- William Hines
- Jacob Meisner
- Talan Renner
- Taylor Sherman
- Dominic Turner
- Talyn Vigil
Dig deeper:
Of the seven suspects in Lord's death, only one of them, William Hines, has been sentenced.
Hines pleaded guilty on March 4, 2025 to manslaughter. His sentencing happened on May 2, 2025, when a judge gave him a 12-year term in connection with Lord's death.
Hines will also serve another five years for reckless drunk driving, after being involved in a crash that left another driver in the ICU for more than a week. Once the 12-year term and the five-year term are served, Hines will be placed on probation for another three years.
"I have no words of forgiveness to offer William Owen Hines for the role he played in my son's death. The severity of the crime demands accountability, and I ask for the maximum sentence," said Lord's father, Nick Lord, during Hines' sentencing.
"His crocodile tears when he changed his plea [to] guilty for manslaughter and the other attacks, really mean nothing to me or to his victims and their families," said Lord's grandfather, Tony Rich.
On Oct. 24, we reported that Vigil was arrested in September for allegedly violating an order of protection.