Crime
Victim killed in Lafayette Maytag Laundromat shooting identified as 35-year-old Keith Ford
Renee Martin, 32, and Salvador Antonio De La Cruz Reyes, 30, were transported to a local hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have released additional information regarding a fatal shooting that occurred at a Lafayette laundromat on Thursday evening, December 5, 2024.
The shooting took place at approximately 7:40 p.m. at the Lafayette Laundromat, formerly known as Maytag Laundromat, located at 3100 South Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a man lying in the parking lot with critical injuries.
He was transported to IU Arnett Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds.
The Tippecanoe County Coroner, Carrie Costello, identified the deceased as 35-year-old Keith Ford.
Inside the laundromat, officers found three more individuals suffering from gunshot wounds:
- Renee Martin, 32, and Salvador Antonio De La Cruz Reyes, 30, were transported to a local hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
- The alleged shooter, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and remains in critical condition.
The Lafayette Police Department (LPD) has confirmed that the suspected shooter is a man from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Investigators are collaborating with the Lincoln Police Department to gather more information about his background and potential motives.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are still under investigation. Authorities have not indicated whether the victims and suspect knew each other or what prompted the violence.
This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the local community.
Police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward by contacting the Lafayette Police Department or submitting anonymous tips through the department’s hotline.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Crime
Noemi Hernandez, Mother of Four Murdered By Her Husband Hector Luvianos Two Days Before Christmas
BATAVIA, Ill. — A devastating domestic homicide has left a family and community in mourning just days before Christmas.
Noemi Hernandez, a devoted mother of four, was fatally attacked in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 23, in what prosecutors allege was a violent act committed by her husband.
The incident occurred at an apartment building in the 100 block of Church Street in Batavia.
According to court records and police reports, at approximately 4:37 a.m., Batavia police were dispatched after a man contacted emergency dispatchers and stated that he had killed his wife.
Responding officers located the man outside the apartment building and took him into custody without incident.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Hernandez suffering from severe, life-threatening injuries.
First responders immediately attempted life-saving measures; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hector B. Luvianos, 37, who was transported to the Batavia Police Department for questioning.
With assistance from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, investigators determined the incident was domestic-related and involved only the two individuals. Police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
On Dec. 24, 2025, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers announced that Luvianos has been formally charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony under Illinois law.
He appeared in court the same day for a pretrial detention hearing, after which a judge ordered him held in the Kane County Jail while the case proceeds.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and an autopsy is scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of Hernandez’s death.
In the wake of the tragedy, Hernandez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and related expenses.
In the fundraiser, the family described Noemi as “the heart of her family,” noting that she worked tirelessly, loved deeply, and always placed her children first. Her sudden death, they wrote, has left the family emotionally devastated and financially unprepared.
As an immigrant family with limited resources and no life insurance, they now face the burden of funeral and cremation costs, legal fees, and other unexpected expenses, all while supporting four children grieving the loss of their mother.
The family is asking for community support to allow them to lay Noemi to rest with dignity and focus on healing rather than financial hardship.
The investigation remains ongoing.