Jose De Jesus Fuentes

Jose De Jesus Fuentes Hernandez was a beloved business owner and a devoted father who had built a life in Columbus, Wisconsin. A 42-year-old Hispanic male, he was known as a hospitable and charitable man whose customers became friends. Having immigrated from Mexico at age 15, he fulfilled his dream of owning businesses, including the popular Tequilas Bar and Grill. While proud of his professional success, he often said his greatest achievement was his son, Brayden, with whom he was inseparable.

In the early morning hours of the Fourth of July, 2024, that life was cut short by an act of violence. Around 1:31 a.m., a Columbus police officer investigating what sounded like fireworks discovered Fuentes Hernandez suffering from gunshot wounds in the downtown area, near his restaurant. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures and transported him to Prairie Ridge Health, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The investigation revealed the shooting stemmed from a brief altercation at a bar between Fuentes Hernandez and Jonathan Javier Luna, then 22. According to authorities, after the dispute, Luna went to his apartment to retrieve a gun and returned to the bar. He waited for Fuentes Hernandez and a friend to leave, at which point he fired at them but missed. The two men ducked into a nearby doorway for cover. When Fuentes Hernandez came out, Luna shot and killed him before fleeing the scene.

The public played a critical role in the investigation that followed. Video footage from the community helped law enforcement quickly identify Luna as the suspect. A search warrant was executed at his Columbus home, but he was not there. Authorities tracked Luna to a hotel in Madison, where he was arrested on the afternoon of July 4th. He later admitted to police that he knew he had killed someone and had purchased a bus ticket to Texas. The firearm believed to have been used in the homicide was recovered along the path Luna took to flee.

Jonathan Javier Luna was charged with first-degree intentional homicide. On November 7, 2025, he pled no contest and was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon. A judge sentenced Luna to life in prison on January 27, 2026. He will be eligible for extended supervision after July 5, 2054.