Queen Creek police shut down street in Gilbert during arrest attempt in Preston Lord murder case
Queen Creek police shut down a street in a Gilbert neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon as officers attempted to execute a warrant for 17-year-old Talan Renner, who ultimately became one of the first people arrested in the Preston Lord murder case.
Officers blasted the gated community of Whitewing with a siren and announced over a loudspeaker they had a warrant for Renner.
He was one of four people indicted by a Maricopa County grand jury earlier in the day on charges that included first-degree murder and kidnapping. William "Owen" Hines, Talyn Vigil and Dominic Turner also were charged.
Renner and Vigil are 17 years old and both are being charged as adults. Hines is 18. Turner, 20, faces an additional charge of aggravated robbery.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office said more arrests are anticipated.
Police ordered all occupants of the Renner house to "come out the front door with your hands up, empty-handed," according to a video recorded by neighbor Sean Yarger. Police cars blocked off the street, Yarger said.
"Our driveway was literally blocked by the SWAT truck," Yarger said. "I walked out there, and there was a SWAT truck in front of my driveway, an evidence van in front of the Renner driveway, as well as another Queen Creek police vehicle. ... That was just the ones in front of the house."
There were three callouts to people inside the house, Yarger said.
Cheers, smiles and tears: Arrests in Preston Lord's death bring relief to community
But it appeared no one was home — no cars were in the driveway and no one came out of the house, he said. Police did not try to enter the house and left.
The house owned by Renner's family was among those targeted in a dramatic raid on Nov. 6, when police armed with assault weapons shut down Whitewing as officers executed search warrants at multiple homes.
"It was very surprising to us last fall when they raided" the Renner house, said Yarger, whose family has lived in the Whitewing at Higley community since 2017. "We did not expect that at all."
Gilbert police in January arrested Kyler Renner, 18, on suspicion of two gang attacks, including an attack at a Gilbert parking garage in December 2022 and a November 2022 Gilbert house party.
Kyler Renner also was arrested in January on drug charges. A Maricopa County grand jury indicted him twice in February on felony drug charges, including drugs for sale.
His father, Travis Renner, 50, was arrested on the same day as his son, on suspicion of drug possession and paraphernalia charges. He has been accused by a former employee of trying to cover up the 17-year-old boy's alleged involvement in the Lord murder.
Similar scenes played out at other southeast Valley residences, according to community members who provided video of the police activity.
By Wednesday evening, children were playing in the park and families were out on strolls in the Whitewing at Higley community. There was no lingering evidence that a street had been shut down earlier that day.
"This is Gilbert. This kind of stuff shouldn't happen here. It's a good neighborhood," Yarger said.
The Republic's Coleby Phillips contributed reporting.
Reach reporter Elena Santa Cruz at [email protected] or 480-466-2265. Follow her on X: @ecsantacruz3.
Robert Anglen is an investigative reporter for The Republic. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on X: @robertanglen.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Preston Lord case: Police try to serve arrest warrant to Gilbert teen