Crime
18-year-old Josiah Perrault killed by Las Cruces police in May 8 shooting
The Las Cruces Police Department has identified the individual fatally shot by an officer on the morning of May 8, 2025, as 18-year-old Josiah Perrault.
The shooting occurred around 6:30 a.m. in the 900 block of Walnut Street, though authorities have released limited details about the circumstances leading up to the incident.
According to an official statement from the City of Las Cruces, a second male individual believed to be involved in the incident was also injured and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Officer-Involved Incident Task Force, which includes investigators from the Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State University Police, is actively investigating the case.
The task force is responsible for gathering evidence and collecting witness statements, which will then be forwarded to the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.
To allow time for the completion of witness interviews and accommodate Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story and other department officials attending National Police Week in Washington, D.C., a press conference originally anticipated sooner has been rescheduled. City officials announced that the briefing will now take place at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 20, in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 700 N. Main Street.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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.