Hundreds of friends, family and supporters of Preston Lord’s family gathered at a downtown Chandler restaurant this week to celebrate what would have been the East Valley resident’s 18th birthday.

Nick Lord, Preston Lord’s father, smiled as he took his turn in the dunk tank set up in the courtyard for the Sept. 23 event, cheerfully getting dropped down by adults and younger attendees who seemed proud of their throwing arms.

Melissa Ciconte, Preston Lord’s stepmother, handed out raffle prizes and did much of the emceeing of the event with a microphone, thanking the attendees repeatedly for celebrating Preston’s life.

The event in the name of Lord, the latest celebration of the teen who was beaten to death at an October 2023 house party, involved several fundraisers for youth and outreach

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