Chapter 1: The Tragic Incident

On the evening of October 28, 2023, a 16-year-old named Preston Lord was discovered severely injured on a street in Queen Creek after leaving a Halloween party. Earlier that night, law enforcement received multiple reports regarding a disturbance involving juveniles in the area. Upon their arrival at 9:07 p.m., officers observed a group of teenagers dispersing but found no visible signs of illegal activity, prompting them to leave.

Approximately 40 minutes later, emergency services received a call indicating that Preston had been found unconscious on the road. Those who found him noted that he was badly hurt, with significant bleeding and a severe injury to his chin. Although he was initially breathing, he soon stopped, and bystanders began CPR while emergency services were contacted.

Upon the arrival of first responders, Preston was rushed to the hospital but sadly did not survive. His death was subsequently classified as a homicide.

What led to this tragic outcome, and who is responsible?

Witnesses reported that the party was crowded when a group of young individuals wearing ski masks appeared. There were rumors that they were armed, although no one confirmed seeing any weapons. The police later stated that they had received calls regarding the party but found no suspicious activities at the time.

The assault on Preston was not an isolated event; it was part of a broader pattern of rising tensions and violence among local youth. An extensive investigation, which took months, finally culminated in March 2024 with the arrest of seven individuals.

In this video, Dr. Phil discusses the implications of gang violence among privileged youth and the dangerous choices they make.

Among those arrested are 17-year-old Talan Renner, 17-year-old Talyn Vigil, 18-year-old William Owen Hines, 20-year-old Dominic Turner, 19-year-old Taylor Sherman, 18-year-old Treston Billey, and 17-year-old Jacob Meisner. They face serious charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and kidnapping.

According to police documentation, the violence erupted over the theft of a necklace belonging to one of Preston's friends, leading to a confrontation with the alleged thieves.

The seven suspects in Preston Lord’s murder case | Image from FOX 10

What began as a seemingly minor incident escalated dramatically, with witnesses recounting a chaotic scene where multiple attackers assaulted Preston as he and his friends attempted to escape. The Queen Creek Police Department compiled a detailed 1,100-page report, revealing disturbing text messages from Renner, including one stating, “Got in a fight…killed a kid...guess I don’t know my own strength.”

In another message involving Sherman, there was a claim that “Talan killed someone with his hands.” These texts indicated a tro