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GILBERT, Ariz. — American Leadership Academy Gilbert North was under fire for blaming a now former head football coach and athletic director after an ALA student suspected of murder was allowed to continue playing football.
On Thursday, the district posted another, longer statement online adding context to the situation, saying if it had known more about closed-door conversations, it would have removed the student from campus pending the outcome of the investigation.
Talan Renner, 17, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in early March. He’s accused of participating in a group-style attack on 16-year-old Preston Lord outside of a Halloween party in Queen Creek on Oct. 28. Lord died from his injuries on Oct. 30.
RELATED: ‘I hit him pretty hard’: Preston Lord police report details how suspects allegedly behaved after deadly assault
On Nov. 2, ALA Gilbert North’s dean of students, Kenneth Thorley, contacted Queen Creek police to alert them that Renner – one of his students – was being accused of murder online.
On Nov. 6, police went to the school to talk to Renner and take DNA.
On Nov. 17, Renner was playing in the 5A quarterfinal game between ALA Gilbert North and Horizon High School. Horizon won the game, 38-25. 12News cameras were there when Renner played.
On March 7, a school spokesperson sent 12News a statement saying in part, “Regarding ALA sporting events that took place in November of 2023, there was no evidence or arrests at that time involving any ALA students.”
But last week, 12News obtained the police report that told us there was evidence to suggest Renner was a person of interest.
The school responded to that reporting last week, saying in part, “As new evidence came to light, measures were taken to remove the student from our school and we terminated the football coach.”
ALA Gilbert North’s coach, Randy Ricedorff, was terminated in January.
RELATED: ALA-Gilbert North parts ways with Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Randy Ricedorff
It’s still unclear what the policy is when a student is accused of off-campus criminal activity.
“Since November of 2023, there have been a number of unfounded and irrational allegations associating ALA with the tragic death of Preston Lord. Now that law enforcement’s investigation into these senseless acts of teen violence has resulted in several indictments; ALA is addressing certain false assertions that have emerged during the course of the investigation.
Throughout the investigation, ALA proactively engaged law enforcement, fully cooperated with their efforts and diligently adhered to the direction they provided.
ALA had no connection with the actions or choices of the individuals who were involved in the death of Preston Lord.
In early November 2023, law enforcement conducted a closed-door interview with a former ALA student who was later indicted for the murder of Preston Lord. At that time, ALA was not made aware of the content discussed in the interview, the existence of any search warrants, or if any evidence was obtained connecting the former student to Preston Lord’s death. Following the interview, law enforcement indicated that the student could return to class and resume normal school activities.
At the time of the game on November 17, 2023, law enforcement had not named any persons of interest, identified any official suspects, made any arrests nor informed ALA of the specifics of their investigation into Preston Lord’s death. Had there been such information, ALA would have removed the student in question from campus pending the outcome of law enforcement investigations.
Absent law enforcement identifying any ALA student as a person of concern, the campus athletic department made the decision to permit the student in question to play. The decision to play the student in question and name him player of the game should have included school administration and other school leaders; it did not, and we regret that decision.”
>> Read the full statement here.
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