Crime
Four Suspects in Las Cruces Young Park Shooting Plead Not Guilty, All to Be Tried as Adults
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The four individuals accused in the deadly mass shooting at Young Park appeared in court Monday morning for their initial hearings, where each entered a plea of not guilty.
Doña Ana County District Attorney Fernando Macias confirmed that all four suspects — including two juveniles — are being charged and tried as adults.
“All four are going to be joined together, at least initially in terms of their cases,” said Macias. “And again, we anticipate going forward, all four of them are being tried as adults.”
The suspects have been formally indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
They have been identified as:
- Tomas Rivas, 20
- Nathan Rivas, 17
- Gustavo Dominguez, 17
- Josiah Ontiveros, 15
The charges stem from the March 21 shooting at Young Park during a car meet event, which left three people dead and 15 others injured in one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent Las Cruces history.
Authorities stated that all four suspects have prior criminal records.
Notably, three of the individuals have a documented history of criminal activity together.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details may be presented as the case progresses through the legal system.
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.