Crime
LRSD employee killed after shooting outside Rockefeller Early Childhood Center in Little Rock
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A woman was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon outside the Rockefeller Early Childhood Center in Little Rock, prompting an immediate lockdown of the school and a swift police response.
According to the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD), officers were dispatched at approximately 2:54 p.m. to the area of 15th and Bragg streets, near the I-30 and I-630 interchange, following reports of gunfire.
Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive woman suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts by paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. confirmed that the victim was an employee of the Little Rock School District.
“Shortly before 3 p.m., an employee of the Little Rock School District was killed in a parking lot outside Rockefeller Early Childhood Center,” Mayor Scott said. “We believe the perpetrator of this heinous crime had a connection to the victim. Little Rock police will share further details as they become available.”
Mayor Scott also confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody shortly after the shooting by Officer Hayes Jalise, also known as Jal Ise. Officials emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the public.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, Mayor Scott expressed both outrage and sorrow over the incident.
“This should never, ever happen, and we must continue to do everything we can to prevent this type of senseless violence in our City. We are outraged, angry, and heartbroken that this crime occurred in such proximity to our precious children. At the same time, we are grateful for the nurturing, caring hands of the Rockefeller staff that kept students safe today and every day. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the victim and her loved ones in this time of deep grief.”
The Little Rock School District also issued a statement, describing the shooting as a “tragic domestic incident.” The district confirmed that no students were harmed or directly involved, but acknowledged the emotional impact on staff who witnessed the event.
“The Little Rock School District is heartbroken to share that a tragic domestic incident occurred outside, near Rockefeller Early Childhood Center, this afternoon. This was an isolated incident, and a suspect is now in custody. Although no students were involved, we are aware that this event has had a profound impact on our entire school community, particularly on the staff members who witnessed the incident. We are grateful to the administration and staff at Rockefeller, who immediately implemented our emergency protocols by using our Centegix CrisisAlert badges to communicate and placing the school on lockdown. No students witnessed the incident or were in harm’s way. Parents were contacted to pick up their children and were escorted into the building. The District has deployed counselors and social workers to support students, staff, and families during this difficult time. We are working closely with the Little Rock Police Department as they investigate, and we ask our community to keep the Rockefeller ECC family in their thoughts and prayers.”
Authorities have not yet released the names of the victim or the suspect.
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.