Arizona Community Comes Together to “Light Up the Night” in Mourning and Seeking Justice for Assaulted and Deceased 16-Year-Old Preston Lord

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : Arizona Community Unites to “Light Up the Night” in Mourning and Demand Justice for Assaulted Teenager

In a tragic incident that has left the community in shock and mourning, 16-year-old Preston Lord was assaulted after a Halloween party and later succumbed to his injuries. The incident took place on October 28, when police responded to a “juvenile disturbance” call near 194th Street and Via del Rancho. Upon arrival, they found multiple teenagers leaving a home gathering, but no illegal activity was reported, so the police left the scene to attend to a higher-priority call. However, just before 10 p.m., the police were called to the area again for an assault, and this time they found Lord lying injured in the road. Sadly, Lord passed away from his injuries on October 30.

The Queen Creek Police Department is currently investigating the case but has sought assistance from the FBI. To aid in the investigation, the FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for any information that might help solve Lord’s case. In an effort to gather information, an anonymous form has been made available for individuals to submit any relevant details.

In the wake of this devastating incident, the community has come together to “light up the night” in honor of Preston Lord. Katey McPherson, a resident of the East Valley and a former educator with 21 years of experience in the school system, took to social media to rally Arizona communities to join in this collective act of mourning and demand for justice. McPherson, who now travels across the country advocating for youth mental health and responsible social media use, expressed her horror upon learning about Lord’s assault. She revealed that even her own children had contemplated attending the party, unaware of the tragedy that would unfold.

McPherson emphasized that the assault on Lord was not a result of a party getting out of control but rather a deliberate and targeted act. She shed light on the fact that this group of individuals has been assaulting students in the area for at least six months, possibly even longer. McPherson shared the story of her friend’s son, who was attacked by the same group with brass knuckles, resulting in a severe head injury. According to McPherson, the phrase “light the night” symbolizes a commitment to prevent such incidents from happening again.

To spread awareness about the campaign, McPherson collaborated with Scott Koehler, the owner of FASTSIGNS in Phoenix, and Foley’s Air Conditioning. They have jointly funded yard signs that read “Light Up the Night,” which are now being displayed across the community. The signs are not limited to Queen Creek, as people from all over the Phoenix area have joined in, hoping to find answers about what happened to Lord. Due to high demand, Koehler increased the number of signs from an initial 100 to a total of 700. Distribution points include the Animal Medical Center and Strive Physical Therapy in Chandler, with an additional location, Rili B’s in Queen Creek, making approximately 50 signs available.

The community has shown an outpouring of support for Lord’s family during this difficult time. Ann Brogan Martin, a resident of Gilbert on the edge of Queen Creek, posted pictures on Facebook of herself participating in the “light up the night” campaign. She expressed hope that those with evidence would have the courage to come forward and provide closure to this horrific situation. Jennifer Maize, another Gilbert resident, posted a photo of a chalk drawing encouraging the community to join in lighting the night for Lord. Melissa Lord, Preston Lord’s aunt, has also set up a GoFundMe page to support the family, which has already received over $103,000 out of their $105,000 goal.

Furthermore, a fundraiser will be held at Pasta Joint in Queen Creek on November 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with 15% of all sales being donated to Lord’s family. In addition, cheerleaders from high schools across the East Valley, including Casteel, Combs, and Highland, will be wearing orange on Monday night to show their support for Lord, as orange was his favorite color.

The community continues to come together to demand justice for Preston Lord and to ensure that incidents like this never happen again. The signs displaying “Light Up the Night” serve as a visible reminder of the collective commitment to finding answers and seeking justice for Lord’s tragic assault. To pick up a sign, interested individuals can visit the Animal Medical Center of Chandler, Rili B’s in Queen Creek, or Strive Physical Therapy in Chandler during the designated hours. The signs are a powerful symbol of unity and solidarity as the community mourns the loss of a young life and seeks justice for Preston Lord..