More than a dozen people named in wrongful death lawsuit filed by Preston Lord’s parents

The parents of Preston Lord, who died last year after being attacked at a Halloween party, filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday, naming all seven alleged attackers in the case. In addition to the seven people charged, the lawsuit also lists the homeowners who hosted the Halloween party and the parents of some of the suspects.

In the lawsuit obtained by ABC15, the defendants are accused of negligence, assault and aiding and abetting unlawful conduct.

The lawsuit states that Talan Renner’s parents should have been aware of their son’s “tendency toward violence and physical harm to others,” citing three previous incidents in which threats, fights/bullying or physical assault allegedly occurred.

The document also states that the owners of the house where the attack took place had a “duty of reasonable care” and should have supervised the proceedings at the party.

“The Lord family is seeking justice and accountability for all who contributed to Preston’s death. This lawsuit brings them one step closer to that goal. They are grateful for the community’s support and determined to see this case through to the end,” said Andrew J. & Bryn K. DeFusco of DeFusco Law.

Read the full lawsuit below:

On October 28, 2023, 16-year-old Preston Lord was found lying in the street in the area of ​​Via del Oro and 194th Street after an attack at a Halloween party in Queen Creek. He was pronounced dead two days later.

After Lord’s death, several other cases of youth violence were reported in the East Valley, and ABC15 heard from viewers in the days following Lord’s death that a group called the “Gilbert Goons” appeared on television. The Gilbert Goons have since been classified as a criminal street gang, although the group had nothing to do with Lord’s death.

Several agencies in the East Valley began investigating assault cases as early as December 3, 2022. Some cases were not reported until after Lord’s death.

Dale Jorgensen told ABC15 in February that in the weeks following Lord’s death, he decided to report the attack to police himself.

“Speaking up will only help and contribute to bringing them down. And the first step is having conviction in what you are saying and doing,” Jorgensen said in February.

Since then, several arrests have been made in cases of youth violence and some suspects have been convicted.

The scheduled trial date for the seven suspects in the Lord case has been set for July 2025, but defense attorneys expect there will be further delays before the trial begins.

Community members’ efforts resulted in ordinance changes in Chandler and Gilbert outlawing disorderly assembly and the use of brass knuckles by minors. Ordinances in both cities targeting disorderly assembly allow law enforcement to hold organizers of such gatherings accountable.

ABC15 continues to track cases of youth violence in the East Valley. Find our latest coverage here.