Crime
Augusta Mall shooting victim identified as 17-year-old Devon McClain
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A violent confrontation at Augusta Mall on Tuesday afternoon escalated into gunfire, leaving a 17-year-old dead and sparking panic among shoppers.
Authorities have charged a 16-year-old with murder following the incident, which was captured on witness cell phone recordings and mall surveillance cameras.
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley confirmed during a press conference that the shooting began as a fistfight involving six individuals.
“It all started as a fight,” Brantley said. “One of the suspects pulled out a firearm and shot the other.”
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Devon McClain, 17, of Augusta.
According to Coroner Mark Bowen, McClain was struck at least once and transported by EMS to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the precise cause of death.
The suspect, identified as 16-year-old Tyric Kendarius Logan, a resident of Silver Street in Augusta, was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Criminal Investigations Division.
Sheriff Brantley confirmed Logan is being charged as an adult with murder.
Logan had previously been listed as a runaway in a flyer circulated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in August. Investigators have since identified and interviewed additional persons of interest as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities noted that the victim, McClain, had prior involvement in gun-related violence. In June 2025, he was arrested in connection with a shooting in Augusta’s Harrisburg neighborhood that left two juveniles injured.
At that time, McClain faced charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime after being found with a 10mm handgun.
Tuesday’s shooting took place inside the mall on the lower level near the escalator, close to the American Eagle store.
Witnesses reported hearing at least three shots before the suspect fled into Bath & Body Works. Panic ensued as shoppers rushed to escape. Deputies located McClain suffering from gunshot wounds shortly after arriving.
The initial 911 call was reported as an active shooter situation, leading to a large emergency response and lockdown of the mall. Sheriff Brantley later clarified:
“It was not an active shooter. It was a fight that ended up in gunfire.”
The incident drew a massive multi-agency response, including the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Marshal’s Office, GBI, FBI, ATF, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT, Augusta Fire Department, Central EMS, and Richmond County Board of Education Police. Businesses were cleared store by store, and all shoppers and employees were safely evacuated.
Sheriff Brantley credited mall security with playing a critical role in quickly detaining two of the suspects.
“With the release of video to us, it allowed us to respond quickly and apprehend two of the culprits,” he said, adding that detailed clothing descriptions provided to investigators also proved essential.
This latest tragedy adds to a troubling history of violence at Augusta Mall. In July 2024, a man was shot inside the Snipes shoe store in a targeted attack. Earlier that spring, another person was wounded in a shooting at Dillard’s, and in 2020, a deadly shooting left one man dead and a bystander injured.
Several shoppers and employees described the fear and confusion during Tuesday’s lockdown. Shannon Sanchez, an Augusta resident, said she was locked in a storeroom with others:
“It was a terrible situation.”
Annette Prince, an employee at Dick’s Sporting Goods, said she was eventually released after being held in lockdown for an extended period.
“It was scary for sure,” she later wrote on Facebook.
The incident has reignited calls from residents for stricter safety measures at the mall, including the installation of metal detectors. Many have drawn comparisons to the now-closed Regency Mall, which shut down after a surge in violence and security issues.
Augusta resident Richard Bows voiced frustration:
“Augusta Mall keeps thinking people will actually pay attention to those ‘No Weapons’ signs. It’s actually scary to know how many people are carrying guns in this mall. This is the third shooting here. Now there’s even more trauma and pain. Change needs to happen.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review surveillance footage, witness statements, and additional evidence.
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.