During the Feb. 7 Town Council meeting, Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley and the council recognized Preston Lord and his family during the moment of silence.
“Preston, his family and friends continue to be on my mind and in my heart. It cannot be stressed enough - the senseless acts of violence that took place on Oct. 28 are unacceptable. And those that are responsible will be held accountable. Thank you to the community for continuing to stand up and say violence will not be tolerated,” said Wheatley.
“While we don’t have new information to share this evening. I want to ensure there are ongoing updates as this case remains a top priority. As you know, in late December our office submitted charges to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) against seven individuals related to the homicide investigation from Oct. 28. We focused on providing a submittal that would allow the County Attorney enough time to consider the facts of the case and the requested charges. While the process takes time - there will be accountability and there will be arrests,” said Queen Creek Police Chief Brice.
Wheatley and Brice’s remarks at the meeting can be seen here
The Queen Creek Police Department (QCPD) stated it remains focused on bringing justice for Preston: "The department is committed to the safety of the community and continues to deploy extra patrols in common areas where teens are known to congregate, utilizing school resource officers in all district high schools and building critical community connections."
Wheatley added “what we have seen out of this tragedy is the community coming together. The actions of the youth who have had the strength to stand up and share their stories, or show these acts of kindness, gives me hope. Last month our community came together to discuss possible solutions - and we will continue to move those ideas forward. We are also moving our Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee forward so we can have a more direct connection to our youth. Our behavior as adults is setting the example for others. Keep being a positive influence. Keep standing up for what is right. Justice for Preston will remain a top priority for our community.”
The homicide investigation is related to an incident that occurred on Oct. 28, 2023. At 9:49 p.m. QCPD received a 911 call in regards to an assault in the area of 194th Street and Via Del Rancho. A juvenile victim was located in the roadway, later identified as Preston Lord; he was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Monday, Oct. 30 he passed away in the hospital.
New tips can be submitted through the following:
● Anonymous tips including images and video regarding the incident can be submitted to QCPD at https://p3tips.com/952.
● Photos or video evidence can be submitted to fbi.gov/prestonlord. The FBI's Toll-Free tipline is available at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
● Tips can also be sent directly to QCPD at 480-358-3575 or QCPDInvestigators@QueenCreekAZ.gov.
Available updates related to the case will be posted at QueenCreekAZ.gov/QCPDUpdate.
Update from Maricopa County Attorney's Office - Feb. 7, 2024
Update from Maricopa County Attorney's Office - Jan. 24, 2024
Jan. 18 update
Wheatley and Brice’s remarks at the Jan. 17 Town Council meeting can be seen here
During the Jan. 17 Town Council meeting, Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley and the Town Council recognized Preston Lord and his family during the moment of silence.
“I want to acknowledge the heartache we feel from the passing of Preston Lord and teen violence happening in the region. I want to reflect on the impact the awful actions of Oct. 28 have had on our community and reiterate this violence will not be tolerated in Queen Creek or our region.” said Wheatley. “While we work towards justice through an arrest and conviction, we must also evaluate how we can make positive changes as a result of this tragedy. I have met with concerned parents and nonprofits on how we can come together to navigate the unique challenges facing our youth.”
Brice stated, “In late December, our office submitted charges to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) against seven individuals related to the homicide investigation from Oct. 28. We continue to communicate with the MCAO as they review the case and submitted charges. While the MCAO reviews the submittal, the investigation is not over. I cannot stress enough the importance of a thorough investigation. The scope of this case necessitates an extensive review.”
QCPD is focused on bringing justice for Preston. As the investigation continues community safety and security are top priorities for the department. Extra patrols continue to be deployed in common areas where teens are known to congregate, utilizing school resource officer presence in all district high schools, and building critical community connections.
“I would like to reiterate that The Town of Queen Creek and The Queen Creek Police Department condemns any acts of violence. These senseless acts of violence will not be tolerated in our community," said Brice. “To those responsible for the murder of Preston - you will be held accountable, arrests are coming, and we will bring justice to his family.”
The incident occurred on Oct. 28. At 9:49 p.m. QCPD received a 911 call in regards to an assault in the area of 194th Street and Via Del Rancho. A juvenile victim was located in the roadway, later identified as Preston Lord; he was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Monday, Oct. 30 he passed away in the hospital.
New tips can be submitted through the following:
● Anonymous tips including images and video regarding the incident can be submitted to QCPD at https://p3tips.com/952.
● Photos or video evidence can be submitted to www.fbi.gov/prestonlord. The FBI's Toll-Free tipline is available at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
● Tips can also be sent directly to QCPD at 480-358-3575 or QCPDInvestigators@QueenCreekAZ.gov.
