Crime
Pottstown Standoff Ends with Officer Injured, Suspect Andrew Ecker Fatally Shot
POTTSTOWN, Pa. — A standoff in Pottstown on Sunday night ended in the fatal shooting of a suspect and the injury of a police officer, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident began around 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2025, when Pottstown Police responded to a vehicle crash near the intersection of Beech and North Mount Vernon streets.
Authorities say the driver, later identified as 25-year-old Andrew Jackson Ecker, attempted to reach for a .22 caliber firearm at the scene of the crash before fleeing on foot to his residence on Winding Road.
Officers pursued Ecker to his home, where he allegedly opened fire on police, striking one officer in the shoulder.
The injured officer was transported to a hospital in Reading and is reported to be in stable condition.
Following the initial gunfire, Ecker barricaded himself inside the residence, prompting a significant law enforcement response that included SWAT West and officers from multiple jurisdictions.
Negotiators were able to make contact with Ecker with assistance from a family member, but despite extended efforts, he refused to surrender.
At approximately 10:45 p.m., the situation escalated, and Ecker was fatally shot during the standoff.
The specific circumstances surrounding the use of deadly force have not yet been detailed.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident, including the officer-involved shooting.
Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses.
Authorities have not indicated any ongoing threat to the public.
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.