MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Domestic violence has ripped through families and communities too many times this year as our top leader issues an urgent plea to act.
So far this year, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has reported six homicides related to domestic violence. Memphis police reported another 30.
The numbers were hard for Marquiepta Odom-Williams to hear. She’s a domestic violence survivor and said it’s hard to walk away.
“When we when we think we are in love with someone, we begin to believe what they say. We lose our true identity,” she said.
Research shows it takes about seven attempts before a victim finally leaves their abuser. Sadly, the violence usually escalates after each attempt.
Law enforcement responds to thousands of domestic violence related calls every year.
Last year, 2,100 of them were aggravated assaults. Another 892 were reported this year as of mid-October, and 52% of those incidents involved guns.
Studies state if there’s access to a firearm, the increase of a domestic violence homicide jumps by 400%.