Talyn Vigil, charged in the 2023 beating death of 16-year-old Preston Lord, was arrested for a third time while free on bond after Tempe police said he drag raced a motorcycle near Arizona State University.
Officers arrested Vigil, 20, and Reeve Gosney, 23, shortly before 3 p.m. Sept. 17 on misdemeanor reckless-driving and exhibition-of-speed allegations, ABC15 reported. Police said the riders split traffic, performed burnouts at intersections and raced near campus. Both were booked into Tempe City Jail, and their motorcycles were impounded.
At a Sept. 18 initial appearance, a judge said a warrant had been issued over an alleged violation of Vigil’s release conditions. The court set a $5,000 bond, revoked his driving privileges and kept his house-arrest and electronic-monitoring restrictions in place. Vigil said the incident “wasn’t my fault” but agreed to stop driving.
Vigil posted a $1 million bond in April 2024 after a grand jury indicted him on first-degree murder, an alternative second-degree murder count and kidnapping in Lord’s death. Lord was attacked while leaving a Queen Creek Halloween party Oct. 28, 2023, and died two days later. Vigil has pleaded not guilty.
The new arrest follows two unrelated Gilbert cases. Vigil was arrested in September 2025 for violating an order of protection and again in February for alleged reckless driving. Court records obtained by ABC15 show he later signed two misdemeanor plea agreements, received three years of probation and avoided jail, with a 180-day suspended sentence if he violates probation.
Prosecutors earlier asked Judge Sam Myers to revoke Vigil’s release, but he denied the request after considering the existing bond, court appearances and public-safety risk. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said it is aware of the latest arrest and will respond through court. A status conference is scheduled this week.
