‘His suffering remains a present thought in my mind’: Family remembers Preston Lord 2 years after attack

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — It has been two years since Preston Lord was viciously attacked outside of a Halloween party in Queen Creek. The 16-year-old Combs High School junior died from his injuries two days later.

Lord’s death sparked a movement and has raised awareness about teen violence far beyond the East Valley. On Tuesday, the Queen Creek community gathered together to remember Lord’s life and legacy, acknowledge how far they have come, and discuss the work that still needs to be done to stop teen violence altogether.

“For us, time is forever marked by the before and the after of the day of his assault,” said Melissa Ciconte, Preston’s stepmother. “His suffering remains a present thought in my mind. He was a loving and kind person, and the brutality that he endured breaks my heart.”

On Oct. 28, 2023, Lord had just recently turned 16. He was excited about passing his driver’s license test. He was excelling in school and academics. He was playing golf and basketball. 

Then, his life was cut short.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been two years, but we have not forgotten a moment of this. We still live and breathe this case because it is so big,” said Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice. 

Lord’s horrific death was the new police department’s first homicide investigation. Calls for justice from the community grew louder as months passed before arrests were made. 

“Right or wrong, I put a lot of my heart into this. I care a lot about what my staff was doing, how the community felt because of this. And obviously got to really love the family and all the people that have come and supported them. So it’s very emotional all the way around,” Brice said.

Seven suspects were arrested and charged with felony murder in connection to Lord’s death. One of them, William Owen Hines, agreed to a plea deal and was sentenced to 17 years in prison, 12 years for his role in Lord’s death.

The remaining six suspects await trial, which is currently scheduled for January 2026.

Lord’s death inspired widespread change, including the creation of Preston’s Law. It increases the penalties for assailants who participate in group attacks, known as swarming.

“[Preston’s Law] went into effect two days after what should have been his 18th birthday,” said Tony Reich, Preston’s grandfather. “And I would like to see Preston’s Law go national.”

To mark the somber, two-year anniversary, dozens of community members donning orange walked around the Queen Creek Police Department for a Light the Night walk. Teenagers spoke out about mental health awareness. The community lit candles and prayed together, encouraging others to live like Preston.

“Let this remembrance walk not only honor Preston’s memory but ignite our commitment to protect, to speak up and to make sure no other child becomes another name that we have to remember,” Ciconte said.

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