| Preston Lord homicide case | |
| Location: | Queen Creek, Arizona, United States |
| Date: | October 28, 2023 |
| Fatalities: | 1 |
| Victim: | Preston Lord (aged 16) |
| Accused: | 7 |
The Preston Lord homicide case refers to the murder of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek, Arizona in October 2023. Seven individuals between the ages of 15 and 18 were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the case.[1]
Preston Lord was a 16-year-old high school student in Queen Creek, Arizona. On February 10, 2024, Lord was found dead in a remote area of Queen Creek. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.[2]
The Queen Creek Police Department launched an investigation into Lord's murder. Over the course of several weeks, seven suspects between the ages of 15 and 18 were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.[3]
The investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly planned to rob Lord and that the murder was premeditated.[4]
One of the suspects, a 15-year-old, was initially named as a person of interest but then participated in a high school football game after being named as a suspect. This led to accusations of a potential cover-up by the teenager's family.[5]
In March 2024, a grand jury indicted the seven suspects on charges of first-degree murder.[6] :
In May 2024, the seven suspects appeared in court for a target trial date. The suspects were indicted on charges of first-degree murder.[7]
The case has drawn significant media attention, and prosecutors have indicated that they will seek the harshest possible punishments for the suspects.[8]