Crime
Assistant Principal Nerissa Lee Identified Among Victims in Fatal Triple Shooting Outside Berwyn School
Authorities have identified Nerissa Lee, Assistant Principal at Lincoln Middle School, as one of three individuals killed during a shooting that occurred in Berwyn on Tuesday afternoon.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed her identity late Tuesday, and the school district later issued a statement acknowledging her tragic death.
The incident unfolded on September 16, 2025, around 4:00 p.m., in front of Lincoln Middle School, located near 16th Street and Elmwood Avenue.
According to officials, police officers in the area witnessed a man armed with a rifle firing multiple rounds into a vehicle parked outside the school.
As officers attempted to take cover, the suspect also fired in their direction before turning the weapon on himself, resulting in his death.
Two individuals inside the targeted vehicle, including Assistant Principal Lee, were fatally struck by gunfire. A third victim was also pronounced deceased.
The motive for the attack remains under investigation.In response to the tragedy, Lincoln Middle School was closed on Wednesday, with district officials indicating plans to reopen the campus the following day.
Counselors and crisis support teams have been made available to assist grieving students, staff, and families.
District leaders described Ms. Lee as a dedicated educator deeply loved by her students and colleagues. “Her passing is a devastating loss for our school community,” the district’s statement read.
Community members are being asked to keep the families of the victims, as well as the students and staff of Lincoln Middle School, in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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.