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    • Community gathers to remember Preston Lord one year after fatal attack
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    Community gathers to remember Preston Lord one year after fatal attack

    Online Niel Posted on

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    Family and friends of Preston Lord lit up the lake at Frontier Family Park in Queen Creek Monday night with floating lanterns.

    The flickering lights commemorated Lord, 16, who was beaten up in a gang attack at a Halloween party a year ago. He died two days later from traumatic brain injuries.

    “May the lights represent the souls affected by teenage violence,” Melissa Ciconte, Lord’s stepmother, said before the lanterns were released.

    Lord’s grandfather, Tony Reich, spoke directly to his grandson in an emotional speech.

    He said his grandson loved to ride his motorcycle growing up, but they could no longer ride together.

    He said he will “always regret” never giving him this trip.

    “I’m ashamed to say I never got to go with you,” he said.

    Reich called this year the worst year for his family. And he talked about waiting five months for the police to act.

    “And then something finally happened,” he said. “Seven rascals have been arrested and charged with your murder.”

    He said he watched court hearings and saw accused people getting bail.x

    “I’d gladly pay any bail to have you home,” he said.

    Ciconte described the past year as one of heartbreak.

    “A year of living a nightmare,” Ciconte said. “A year without living a life with Preston in it.”

    She said that when she saw her stepson lying in the hospital a year ago, she felt disbelief, anger, frustration and hopelessness.

    Saying goodbye to him was one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do, she said.

    “Some days, I tell God it’s too much,” she said. “Some days, I give up and do the best I can.”

    Ciconte said her stepson will be forever missed, but his impact was great. He has rallied many people who want to see their attackers brought to justice, she said.

    She echoed their family’s consistent message: Justice for Preston. Anything else would be unbearable, she said.

    “Injustice for Preston is like killing him a second time,” she said.

    About a hundred lanterns floated on the dark waters of the lake, some with special messages written on the paper shade.

    The words glowed from within.

    “We really missed you at the game. Go Seahawks,” reads one. The Seattle Seahawks were Lord’s favorite NFL team. “It’s not real yet. i love you man Parent.”

    Others had hand drawn basketballs, notes from people saying they missed him, “PL5” and “Justice for Preston”. Lord played basketball at Combs High School in San Tan Valley. He wore the shirt no. 5.

    Zander Sessions, 16, who attends Queen Creek High School, said he didn’t know Lord but wanted to be remembered. “It wasn’t right what happened,” he said.

    He wore orange, the color of the #Justice4PrestonLord movement, and had a message for the people who killed the Lord.

    “Try to compensate however you can,” he said.

    Bridget Vega of Gilbert said the Lord connected each person present at Monday’s vigil.

    “Never dim your light,” Vegas said. “Stand tall and do what’s right.”

    “It’s a Preston thing”: Parents of slain teenager talk about the impact of his life – and death

    Preston Lord attacked at the Halloween party in 2023; 7 loaded

    On October 28, 2023, Lord and a group of friends, along with hundreds of other teenagers, went to the party after coming across an invitation widely shared on social media.

    The Queen Creek Ranchettes subdivision became so full of revelers that police were called around 9 p.m. Officers reported seeing dozens of teenagers walking around the neighborhood, but said they saw no partying, no alcohol, no crime and no emergency. The police then left for a priority call.

    During the party, Lord and his friends crossed paths with a group of teenagers with a reputation for violence.

    The gentleman was knocked down after a punch to the face. His attackers descended on him, punching his face, kicking and stomping on him. He was lying in the street just before 10 p.m

    He never regained consciousness.

    The Lord’s death shocked the East Valley. His was the first homicide case for the newly formed Queen Creek Police Department.

    A December investigation by The Arizona Republic linked Lord’s killing to the “Gilbert Goons,” a gang of teenagers who recorded their blitz-style attacks on teenagers in parks and parking lots, outside fast-food restaurants and at parties. The attacks, mostly in Gilbert, went unchecked by the authorities for more than a year.

    The attack on the beatings of them and other goons sparked community outrage, prompting marches, vigils and protests for demand responsibility from the police, school officials and politicians.

    Case for Goons has been stored were reopenedand new investigations were launched. In January, authorities began making arrests in gang beatings.

    Queen Creek Police in March arrested seven people about the Lord’s death. They were charged with first degree murder and kidnapping. All pleaded not guilty. Three of the accused were involved in previous attacks by Goons.

    A trial is scheduled to begin in July 2025. The date could be pushed back.

    Queen Creek Mayor: ‘I’m proud of our police department’

    Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice said Monday’s lantern launch, with everyone grieving in one place, was “very emotional.”

    He admitted that some accused in the Lord’s homicide case had posted bail, saying it was beyond his control. But he said he wants people to remember that they charged seven people in Lord’s murder and that the county attorney and his department were “committed” to ensuring the prosecutions were successful.

    The case could not have progressed the way it did without the community’s help, Brice said.

    He said the parties, even some from last weekend, continue to attract teenagers – and warned of the risks those gatherings pose.

    “They need to understand the gravity of the situation,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s all of them, but we have people who still don’t understand what’s going on here.”

    He said any large gathering of teenagers was cause for concern and reminded attendees that Lord’s attack was over in seconds.

    “We take this very seriously,” he said. “We’re asking the public to understand, please understand, that if you let a lot of teenagers get together … there’s a high likelihood of a problem.”

    Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley praised her police department’s handling of the Lord investigation while facing enormous community scrutiny and pressure.

    “I’m very proud of our police department,” she said. “It was a difficult couple of months there when there was an active investigation going on … The information that the public wanted was not available.”

    She echoed the “Justice for Preston” call, describing the lantern launch as “absolutely beautiful”.

    Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Get to her at [email protected]. Follow X @ecsantacruz3.

    Robert Anglen is an investigative reporter for The Republic. Get to him at [email protected]. Follow X @robertanglen.

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