The death of a teen following a weekend party in Queen Creek is being investigated as a homicide, police announced at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
“I want the community to know especially that we're working diligently to bring justice to the victim,” Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice said during a press conference this afternoon.
A GoFundMe site identified the victim Tuesday, and at Wednesday's press conference, Brice confirmed police had received permission from the teen’s family to release the boy’s name as Preston Lord.
The teen attended Combs High School.
“We want to remember is that he is at the focus of this investigation,” Brice said.
Lord died on Monday following an assault Oct. 28 at a party in Queen Creek.
QCPD Commander Martin Newman ran down the events of the evening of Oct. 28 and said police responded to a call at 9:07 p.m. regarding a juvenile disturbance in the area of Via del Oro and 194th Street.
At 9:49 p.m., Brice said police received a 911 call about an assault in the area of 194th Street and Via Del Rancho. Brice said officers arrived at the scene within about three minutes to find Lord in the road and live-saving measures were administered.
“While we are waiting for the findings of the medical examiner, our department is investigating this as a homicide,” Newman said. “As part of the investigation, we requested information from the community. We appreciate all the community's help in providing tips. As of noon today, we've received 76 tips from members of our community and we're diligently working through each of those tips to vet the information to include several investigative leads.”
Newman asked if anyone has eyewitness information or video of the assault to call the department’s non-emergency line at 480-358-3500.
All other tips that are not eyewitness testimony or eyewitness video can be submitted through email at qcpdinvestigators@queencreekaz.gov or by telephone at 480-358-3575 and reference case number 2023-26401.
Newman also addressed several social media “rumors.”
“The first rumor is that officers were on site during the party. We can confirm that no QCPD officers were called to the residence where the party took place and no QCPD officers responded to that party until after the assault took place,” Newman said. “We are aware of other parties that took place that evening elsewhere in the town and we know some of the tips we've been receiving are from other party locations.
“The second rumor to address is that there were many calls that reported this party and the QCPD did not respond. Based on what we know now or know today, QCPD received one call to the non-emergency line regarding the neighborhood and one emergency call to the intersection of 194th in Via Del Rancho for the assault incident. Several additional calls regarding this neighborhood did come in after our officers had already arrived on-scene.”
Brice cautioned that while social media has provided some help, it has also led to much confusion and misinformation.
“This is all about Preston and that's why we're so passionate about making sure that we get the right information and that our investigators are given the time to do what they need to do,” Brice said. “We also have received at least 400 posts or comments on our social media channels. It's imperative that those tips go through the police department in the manner that we've already described, not on social media. While there is good intention, these postings on social media could possibly jeopardize the investigation and when the tips aren't sent to us directly it reduces the number of resources that can be focused on the actual investigation.”
Brice added officers were getting information and video from other large parties occurring on the same evening that have been confused by the public for the party under investigation.
QCPD is requesting video from surveillance or doorbell cameras within a half-mile radius of the area that may have captured footage of the deadly incident between the hours of 6 and 10 p.m. on Oct. 28.
Police say no arrests have been made and the department is continuing its investigation as it awaits the findings from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
In response to questions regarding if parents were at the site of the deadly party and would be charged, as well as those drinking underage, Brice said that was still being investigated and information would be sent to the Maricopa Country Attorney’s Office for eventual charges.
“We're looking at all aspect aspects of the case, whether you were hosting involved or just were at the party, we're looking into all aspects and how that relates to this investigation,” Brice said. “While some of those facts are still under investigation, I'm not going to comment on them, but I'll give you an estimate based on the witness statements (the number of people at the party were) anywhere from 100 to 200 at the time where the party was just about to break up.”
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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