QUEEN CREEK, AZ — The community is remembering Preston Lord one year after he was attacked at a Halloween party.
A "Light the Night" event was held at Frontier Family Park in Queen Creek on Monday. The community was encouraged to wear orange, which was Preston's favorite color.
Just over a month ago, on Sept. 23, Preston’s family held a memorial event on what would have been his 17th birthday. The City of Chandler declared the day “Preston Lord Day.”
A sea of orange has surrounded the Lord family since the beginning, and in March when seven people were arrested and charged with murder in Preston's case.
Most of those suspects have since been released from custody.
The name "Preston Lord," and the events leading up to his death, have grabbed the attention of the East Valley, and at times, the nation, since October of last year.
The family created an orange bracelet with the hashtag “#JusticeforPrestonLord,” a rallying cry that has since turned into a movement.
“It's stepping forward and doing what you can to help somebody along the way,” Melissa Ciconte, Preston's stepmother, said. “By lifting others, we lift ourselves, and that's kind of how Preston lived.”
WATCH: Preston Lord's parents sit down with ABC15 in first one-on-one interview
“Preston was always a very sweet, very kind little boy and young man,” said Nick Lord, Preston’s dad. “He was always very even-tempered about everything, like no matter what, he was always just very happy with everything.”
While the Lords acknowledged the legal process surrounding Preston’s death will be lengthy, they want people to remember their son, not as “the victim,” Nick said, but for people to remember his name and his legacy. A legacy that included kindness, a love for sports (particularly the Seattle Seahawks and Boston Celtics), a knack for academia, and above all, to “be a good person,” Nick said.
On Monday night, the community gathered in Queen Creek to remember Preston.
"One year of heartache," said Ciconte. "One year of living a nightmare."
Community members and Preston's family coming together renewing the push for continued change.
"A young life taken too soon. The tragic death of Preston Lord has shaken our community," said Bridget Vega.
"I think the awareness is there, and now it's the education step," said community advocate Katey McPherson. "The continuous pervasive conversation of what's next, what do we do now."
"Support Justice for Preston Lord events and have the hard conversations with your community and your lawmakers," urged Ciconte.
The only submittal that is still under review involved the homeowners who hosted the Halloween party where Lord was attacked.
"We're waiting to hear exactly what is going to happen with that," said Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice.
He told ABC15 that their department had some productive meetings in recent weeks with the County Attorney to review the case.
But the focus Monday was the teen that sparked a movement.
"You are forever etched in our hearts, always loved, never forgotten, forever missed," said Ciconte.
ABC15's Ashley Holden recently sat down with Queen Creek's police chief to hear the latest on the investigation after a year:
