A Rowan County teen is dead and his younger sister wounded after a horrific early morning attack allegedly committed by their mother’s boyfriend, a man the Department of Homeland Security says is in the country illegally.
Fifteen-year-old Luis Jocsan Nanez Lopez died a hero, trying to protect his mother from an attempted rape. According to investigators, Gildardo Amandor-Martinez, a Mexican national with a history of illegal border crossings, is accused of attempting to rape his girlfriend, Aleida Lopez, early Sunday morning at their apartment on West Sun Street in Morehead. When she resisted, he bit her and injured her arm in the assault. Her son, Luis, intervened and paid with his life.
Court records say the situation initially calmed down—until it turned deadly. After appearing to leave, Amandor-Martinez allegedly grabbed a pistol, fired three shots through a door, and struck both Luis and his younger sister. Luis died at the scene. His sister survived but was also assaulted with the firearm.
“This 15-year-old boy was taking up for his mother. Everybody should look up to him for that,” said Rowan County Attorney Cecil Watkins.
Rowan County High School described Luis as “a sweet student” who was set to begin his sophomore year this fall.
A History of Illegal Entry
Federal officials say Amandor-Martinez is a criminal illegal alien who tried to enter the U.S. three times in 2021. On his third attempt, he successfully slipped into the country at an unknown time and place, without being processed by immigration authorities.
Now, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer against him.
What is an ICE Detainer?
An ICE detainer is a legal request sent to local or state law enforcement by immigration authorities, asking that a non-citizen in custody be held for up to 48 hours after their release date—giving ICE time to take the person into federal custody. In this case, it means that Amandor-Martinez will not be released from local jail back into the community, even if he posts bond, without first being handed over to immigration officials.
“Luis Lopez died trying to save his mother from this criminal illegal alien who was attempting to rape her,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Gildardo Amandor-Martinez is a rapist and cold-blooded killer who should have never been in this country.”
Facing Serious Charges
Amandor-Martinez is now charged with murder, first-degree assault, and attempted rape. He is being held in jail, and ICE has made it clear they intend to take custody should he ever be released.
A Family Torn Apart
The tragedy has stunned the Morehead community. Luis’ classmates and teachers are mourning the loss of a kind young man, while his mother and sister face a long road of emotional and physical recovery.
As this case moves through the courts, it also raises serious questions about how someone with a history of illegal entry was able to remain in the country—and ultimately end up at the center of a tragedy that claimed the life of a child.
