Crime
Violent Start to 2025 in Jefferson County Leaves Four Men Dead
The killings occurred between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Birmingham, Graysville, and Bessemer, highlighting a troubling start to 2025 in the region.
Jefferson County, AL – The new year has begun with a wave of violence in Jefferson County, claiming the lives of four men in separate incidents, including the fatal shooting of a Domino’s delivery driver during an apparent robbery.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the victims as:
- Derek Marcus Burpo, 51, of Birmingham
- Elijah Mack Jr., 65, of Birmingham
- Jason Neal Duke, 40, of Graysville
- Ernest Paul Christion Jr., 68, of Birmingham
The killings occurred between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Birmingham, Graysville, and Bessemer, highlighting a troubling start to 2025 in the region.
Derek Burpo: Domino’s Delivery Driver Killed in Apparent Robbery
At approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Birmingham police responded to reports of shots fired in the 400 block of Roebuck Drive on the city’s east side. Upon arrival, officers found Burpo unresponsive outside his car near a house on a private road. His vehicle contained pizzas he was in the process of delivering.
Burpo was pronounced dead on the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service at 9:42 p.m.
“This is one of the most heartbreaking homicides we have witnessed,’’ said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. “A man out trying to make an honest living was killed so violently. They robbed a family of their loved one.”
Detectives are investigating whether the crime was premeditated or a crime of opportunity. Residents in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots, and police are actively seeking leads.
Jason Neal Duke: Domestic Dispute Turns Deadly
Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 300 block of 1st Avenue SW in Graysville around 1:21 a.m. on Wednesday. They discovered Duke, 40, dead at the scene. Graysville Fire and Rescue pronounced him deceased at 1:51 a.m.
Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute. A 40-year-old male suspect was questioned and released pending a review by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed.
Ernest Paul Christion Jr.: Stabbed in Ensley
Birmingham’s West Precinct Officers were dispatched to a house in the 2500 block of 15th Street Ensley just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon entering, they found 68-year-old Christion unresponsive.
He was transported by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:50 p.m.
Police are interviewing witnesses to determine a motive, but no arrests have been made at this time.
Elijah Mack Jr.: Victim of Fatal Assault
Details surrounding Mack’s death have not yet been released. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of his killing.
A Troubling Trend of Violence
The tragic deaths of these four men come as Jefferson County grapples with a violent start to 2025. Birmingham ended 2024 with a record-breaking 151 homicides, the highest number since 1933.
Law enforcement is urging the community to come forward with any information that could help solve these cases. Tips can be submitted to Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
As the investigations continue, local officials and community leaders are calling for increased efforts to address the root causes of violence and prevent further loss of life.
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.