On the evening of March 25, 2024, a distressing call was made to the London-Laurel County 911 Center at approximately 7:38 p.m. The caller, a woman, reported that her husband had been shot and was possibly deceased. Officers were dispatched to the residence, where they discovered the body of 60-year-old Manuel Lomeli Jr. He had sustained an apparent gunshot wound, which was determined to be the cause of his death.
The male victim was a painter and forklift driver who had been born in South Central Los Angeles, California.
The investigation into the shooting was swiftly taken over by the Laurel County Major Crimes Task Force, a collaborative unit including members of the London Police Department, the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, and the Kentucky State Police. Through their investigation, authorities identified the initial caller as the primary suspect. The woman, 59-year-old Yolanda M. Lomeli, was identified as the wife of the victim.
Following the investigation at the scene, Yolanda Lomeli was arrested without incident. She was subsequently charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the death of her husband. Following her arrest, she was lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting is reported to be ongoing. The family has planned a memorial service to be held at a later date.
