Crime
23-Year-Old Abel Vazquez Identified as Victim in Fatal Southgate Kroger Stabbing
SOUTHGATE, MI — Authorities have identified the victim killed in Tuesday’s fatal stabbing inside a Southgate Kroger as 23-year-old Abel Vazquez of Southgate.
The violent incident occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 7, inside the Kroger Marketplace located near Fort Street and Pennsylvania Road.
Police say a fight between two men — reportedly over a woman — escalated into a deadly assault that claimed the life of the 23-year-old.
According to Southgate Police, officers responded to the grocery store shortly after 3 p.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting a physical altercation in progress. When officers arrived, they found Vazquez suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Emergency responders rendered medical aid at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators determined that the suspect, a 33-year-old Kroger employee, and the victim had arranged to meet at the store.
During their confrontation, the dispute turned violent, and the employee allegedly stabbed Vazquez. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Police emphasized that the victim was not employed by Kroger, and the incident is being treated as isolated, posing no ongoing threat to the public.
Detective Sergeant Michael Murphy of the Southgate Police Department stated that the altercation stemmed from personal issues involving a woman.
“I’m not sure how well they knew each other directly, but it did stem over another female that brought the two together,” Sgt. Murphy said. “They had prior communication leading up to this event. It’s just a tragic situation that could have been avoided — one that will devastate multiple families.”
Witnesses at the scene provided additional context.
Anthony DeGregorio, whose sister works at the store, told Channel2 NOW that the suspect was reportedly a store manager accused of inappropriate conduct toward female employees.
“It was two younger guys — one being an employee and the other the boyfriend of an employee,” DeGregorio said. “The boyfriend came to confront the employee for being weird and harassing his girlfriend. It broke out into a fight that ended with the employee pulling a knife. My sister and other women had reported him for harassment, but nothing was ever done — and now this has happened.”
Authorities are still reviewing store surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as part of their investigation.
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be arraigned soon.
Kroger officials confirmed that the store will reopen on Thursday, October 9, at 8 a.m., following cleanup and security assessments.
The investigation remains active under the Southgate Police Department in coordination with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
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.