Crime
Third Suspect Arrested in Connection to Las Cruces Mass Shooting
Las Cruces, NM – Authorities have arrested three suspects in connection with the deadly mass shooting that occurred at Young Park on Friday night, March 21, 2025.
Las Cruces police confirmed the arrests of Tomas Rivas-Hidalgo, 20; Nathan Giovani Rivas, 17; and 17-year-old Gustavo Dominguez.
All three suspects are facing three open counts of murder, with additional charges anticipated as the investigation continues.
Tomas Rivas-Hidalgo has been booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
Nathan Giovani Rivas and Gustavo Dominguez, as a juvenile, has been remanded to a juvenile detention facility.
Officials have identified the three individuals who lost their lives in the shooting:
- Andrew Madrid, 16
- Jason Gomez, 18
- Dominick Estrada, 19
Madrid and Gomez were pronounced dead at the scene, while Estrada was transported to MountainView Regional Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Additionally, 15 other victims, ranging in age from 16 to 36, sustained injuries during the attack.
Of those injured, nine are male and six are female. To protect their privacy, authorities have not released their names.
Authorities have confirmed that Gabriel Rickman is not connected to the mass shooting. After being interviewed by investigators, he was cleared of any involvement.
Officials also addressed rumors stemming from social media, including an image of a teenager holding an AR-style rifle.
A ballistic examination determined that 50 to 60 shell casings recovered from the scene were all from handguns, with no evidence linking the rifle in the image to the shooting.
Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story held a news conference on Saturday morning, where he reiterated that all shell casings collected were from handguns.
He also confirmed that the individual seen in the social media post holding a rifle had been interviewed by police and is not a suspect at this time.
The Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) is continuing its investigation in coordination with the FBI, ATF, New Mexico State Police, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025, in the parking lot of Young Park at 850 S. Walnut St.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire and multiple victims. Several of the injured were transported to local hospitals, with seven later transferred to medical facilities in El Paso, Texas.
The conditions of the surviving victims have not been released at this time.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Young Park remains closed, and nearby roads continue to be restricted to through traffic as law enforcement officials process the crime scene.
Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information, photos, or videos from the incident to come forward to assist in the investigation.
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.