Preston Lord: Memorial held on anniversary of teen's violent beating that led to his death
QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. - Family, friends and supporters gathered in the East Valley on Oct. 28 for a memorial in honor of Preston Lord who died two days after an attack.
Lord was attacked on Oct. 28, 2023 at a Halloween party in Queen Creek. Preston, who was 16 at the time, was taken to the hospital, and died two days later.
According to a medical examiner's report, Preston died from multiple blunt force injuries, and his death was labeled as a homicide.
The memorial was held at Frontier Family Park in Queen Creek. It was, of course, a very emotional day for the Lord family.
"We gathered here today because this is the night of his assault, and we're really appreciative that you're here and able to hold us up during this time," said his stepmother, Melissa Lord.
Nearly every person in the park was wearing his favorite color, orange. They decorated water lanterns with messages to Preston.
"I never actually got to know Preston before this and so, I just wrote a note to him saying I wish I had known him and we are here to support his family and just for him to continue to guide us and we'll have his family's back," Shannon Carnahan said.
She remembers the night Lord was assaulted.
"It happened like a mile from my house," she said. "My daughter's friends were at the party that night."
Lord's grandfather remembers getting the devastating phone call from his daughter that Preston had been taken to the hospital, and he needed to get there fast.
"On the way down from our house, all I could think of is, ‘This is not happening to you. Your sister, your mom' … We were all supposed to be carving pumpkins and eating chili that day," he said.
Ever since his death two days after the Halloween party, the community has come together.
"Totally strangers. Didn't know each other a year ago and here we are coming together for the purpose of being an advocate, not only for Preston's name and honor, but for all teen victims out there," Richard Kuehner said.
Preston's death eventually brought to light the growing issue of teen violence in the East Valley, and has inspired laws in several cities that are aimed at putting an end to it. Seven suspects were arrested in connection with Preston's death, but all of them have pleaded not guilty. Their trials are set for July 2025.