Crime
Augusta Mall shooting victim died
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Chaos unfolded at Augusta Mall on Tuesday afternoon when a fight involving six individuals escalated into gunfire, leaving one person dead and sparking panic among shoppers.
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley confirmed during an afternoon press conference that what began as a physical altercation quickly turned deadly.
“It all started as a fight,” Brantley said. “One of the suspects pulled out a firearm and shot the other.”
The shooting took place on the lower level of the mall near the escalators, in the vicinity of the American Eagle store.
Witnesses reported hearing at least three shots before the suspected gunman fled into a nearby Bath & Body Works.
Shoppers scrambled for safety as deputies rushed inside. Investigators located a man suffering from gunshot wounds; he was later pronounced dead.
“We have one deceased and the family has been notified,” Sheriff Brantley stated.
The incident initially triggered an active shooter alert, prompting a large-scale emergency response and lockdown of the mall.
Brantley later clarified that it was not an active shooter situation but rather a fight that escalated into a targeted shooting.
Two suspects were detained at the scene with assistance from mall security, while two others remain at large.
The sheriff credited security cameras and swift coordination with helping officers quickly identify and apprehend part of the group.
“With the release of video to us, it allowed us to respond quickly and apprehend two of the culprits,” Brantley said.
Multiple agencies responded, including the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), ATF, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT, Augusta Fire Department, Central EMS, and mall security teams.
Businesses were cleared store by store, and all shoppers and employees were safely evacuated.
At 2:45 p.m., the sheriff’s office issued an update confirming that the search for additional suspects was ongoing:
“We are still on scene dealing with multiple issues at this time, and still searching for one individual. Deputies are having to clear store by store to look for anybody that is still inside hiding and/or possibly having a medical emergency. This process will take a while, so we thank you for your patience and cooperation in advance.”
The mall remained closed Tuesday evening as the investigation continued.
This shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents at Augusta Mall.
In July 2024, a man was shot inside the Snipes shoe store in what investigators described as a targeted attack.
Earlier that spring, another person was wounded during a shooting at Dillard’s, and in 2020, a deadly shooting left one man dead and a bystander injured.
Augusta resident Shannon Sanchez, who was locked inside a storeroom with others during Tuesday’s incident, described the experience as terrifying:
“It was a terrible situation.”
Sheriff Brantley acknowledged the community’s concerns but refrained from making broader safety assurances.
“Anything could be safer than what it is,” he said. “But that is not what I am here to do.”
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.