Crime
18-Year-Old Arrested for First-Degree Murder in Southeast Wichita Shooting
Wichita, KS – An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following a fatal shooting in a southeast Wichita neighborhood.
The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Manuel Roach, a Wichita resident.
According to the Wichita Police Department (WPD), officers responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the 1200 block of South Bleckley Drive, located southeast of Lincoln and Oliver.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered Roach with life-threatening gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Roach was involved in a disturbance with three unidentified men, all dressed in black, before the shooting.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspects exit a white SUV, approach the victim, and open fire.
The suspects then fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
The 18-year-old suspect, who has not been publicly identified, later arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Police determined he was involved in the shooting, leading to his arrest and booking into the Sedgwick County Jail on a first-degree murder charge.
Authorities believe Roach was targeted, though the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation.
The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
WPD is actively searching for the three additional suspects and the white SUV seen leaving the scene.
Officials urge anyone with information to contact Wichita Police at 911 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
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.