CHANDLER, Ariz. — Parents of teenagers who have recently died as a result of violence in the East Valley addressed Chandler's elected leaders Thursday night, calling for more programs and strategies that will prevent further acts of teen violence.
The mothers and fathers of multiple dead teenagers told the Chandler City Council about the individual circumstances that resulted in their child's death, to spur action that could potentially prevent another tragedy.
Nick Lord, the father of 16-year-old Preston Lord, described his son as a kind, gentle soul who always did what he was asked. Lord died after he was beaten while attending a Halloween party in Queen Creek.
The teen's father called for holding everyone to a "higher degree of accountability."
"Our community cannot afford complacency," Lord told Chandler's leaders.
In the months following Lord's death, police departments in the East Valley have made several arrests in multiple cases of violent assaults that date back over the last couple of years.
Though Preston Lord's case occurred in Queen Creek, his father said it's apparent that teen violence has become a regional issue that's affected multiple communities.
"This did not happen in Chandler but I think we can all agree that the impact of youth violence is far more widespread than we all could have imagined at this point," Nick Lord said.
Other parents of deceased teens took turns addressing Chandler's council members, asking them to call upon their neighbors in surrounding cities to take action in addressing teen violence.
Mark Jacobo, whose 18-year-old son, Stephen, was shot to death while attending a party in Mesa, told the council his family is starting a foundation that will support other families affected by violence.
Olga Lopez, the mother of 18-year-old Jeremiah Aviles, told the council how her son would drive across the East Valley each day to attend Red Mountain High School before he was killed last May.
The mother said she hopes other East Valley cities will look to Chandler and collaborate on finding ways to prevent more violence.
"Our kids travel and so we have to ensure that we lock arms and model for our kids what it is to be in community," Lopez said.
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EAST VALLEY TEEN VIOLENCE
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