Guns and Domestic Violence: A Case from CVAC's Files

In June, following the shooting of Rep. Scalise and several others, we posted here about the connection between mass shootings and domestic violence. In the wake of another mass shooting by a perpetrator with a history of domestic violence, we felt it was important to share a case from our files to illustrate how our advocates can intervene when an domestic abuser is known to have guns.

Victoria* filed for an order of protection against her abuser alleging both physical and emotional abuse. She shared with her Court Order of Protection Assistance (COPA) advocate that her abuser had threatened to shoot her. Victoria was granted an ex parte and the abuser was served with the temporary order. The next day Victoria’s advocate was notified by a gun shop that Victoria’s abuser had purchased a hand gun. This was made possible through a partnership with the St. Louis City Sheriff’s Office. In Missouri, such a purchase while the Order of Protection is pending is still legal. 

Once notified, Victoria's advocate contacted the victim to warn her of the purchase and to safety plan with her. She communicated that she no longer felt safe residing in the city and would be going to stay with relatives in the county. Victoria’s advocate was able to communicate her concerns to one of the St. Louis City Police detectives. The Domestic Violence Intervention Partnership (DVIP) advocate in the police department got involved in Victoria's case, as well. 

Upon losing communication with the victim, her advocates became very concerned for her safety. The DVIP advocate sent a police officer to the victim’s relatives’ home to check on her safety. Victoria was ultimately granted a full order of protection and the abuser was ordered to surrender his firearm to the local police department. She also began seeing a counselor at CVAC.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, CVAC's hotline is 314-652-3623.

*name and some details have been changed to protect the victim's privacy

The Real Story of Mass Violence- Domestic Violence

Last week, the United States suffered two more highly publicized shootings in which multiple people were injured or killed. At a UPS facility in San Francisco, three employees were killed and at least two more were injured. On a ballfield in Washington D.C., Rep. Steve Scalise and three others were shot, but all are expected to survive. The alleged shooters from both cases are deceased. These follow cases like the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub, Emanuel AME Church, and in San Bernadino. After any mass casualty event, law enforcement and the media will dissect the life and possible motives of the shooters. What led up to this shooting? Were there warning signs? How can we prevent another one from happening?

One important thing to note, however, is that not all mass shootings makes the news like the two did last week. These types of shootings, carried out in public, are not the rule for mass shootings. They are the exception.

The majority of mass shootings where 4 or more victims are killed (54%) include the murder of an intimate partner or a family member. The majority of these cases (70%) also occur in the home, not in public. The story of mass violence in American is not one of religion or race or politics; the story of mass violence in America is a story of domestic violence.

To have a meaningful discussion of violence in America, especially of mass fatal violence, we need to have a meaningful discussion about domestic violence. We need to talk about why more than 11,000 of our St. Louis area neighbors had to seek services after being victims of domestic violence and why more than 500 sought services but were unable to receive them due to program capacity. We need to talk about why there are only 130 domestic violence shelter beds in St. Louis and why, even with 40,000 bed nights used in those shelter beds in 2015, over 5,000 people were turned away because the shelters were full. We need to talk about why agencies have to do so much with so little. We need to talk about why there are thousands of our neighbors suffering in silence. We need to talk about why domestic violence is not just a private issue. It is a public crisis.

Crime Victim Advocacy Center serves victims of domestic violence regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. If you have been a victim of domestic violence and would like to speak to an advocate, counselor, or lawyer, please call CVAC’s hotline at 314-652-3623.

Because They Lived

This Saturday, Crime Victim Advocacy Center and the Homicide, Ministers & Community Alliance will host their 7th Annual Vigil of Remembrance for Homicide Victims. As the partnership between CVAC and HMCA has grown, so has the relationship with the police and with the number of referrals. At the first vigil in 2010, we honored 149 victims of homicide at a vigil attended by less than 40 family members. This year, the solemn list includes 270 victims. 

We gather together not because these individuals died, but because they lived. Their life, their laughter and love, their sorrow and joy were shared with family and friends who are left to grieve their loss. Grief is the price that we pay for loving someone. 

This year, we honor the lives of:

Markel Simms

Henry Williams

Tylan Bogan

John Kimble

Patrick Jr Hunter

Jamayha Luss

Lenny Hogan

Antoine Bland

D'andre Robinson

Nathaniel Stansberry

Dominick Chambly

Trevon Chapple

Keith Wingo

Lakeesha Morris

Latrielle Dunn

Victor Ivory

Danesha Barnes

Ricardo Comparini

Ryan McDermott

Jarrett Greene

Lamont Robinson

Jeffrey Williams

Jose Garcia

Andre Montgomery

Brandon Ellington

Mark Scott

Mark Carrol

Charles Newsome

Andre Walker

Jocelyn Peters

Tyrin Williams

Andre Henderson

Kevin McAfee

Steven Sunkel

Isaiah Harris

Kawynn Humphries

Jordon Taynor

Jose Orona

Otis Brown

Clyde Lockett

Karon Little

Marcus Jackson

Gina Smith

Shawn Quinn

Chelvon Thomas

James Pierce

Reginald Johnson

Howard Cooper

Lee Eason

Michael Williams

Dominick Miller

Frankie Phillips

Terry Evans

Courtney Ward

Joseph Recker

Devin Bess

Arlandus Mayo

Richard Graham

Kendall White

Darrell McCoy

Sandra Meraz-Anaya

Janay Noldon

Robert Piffins

Brandi Hill

Melvin Thomas

Marquita Jones-Smith

Madison Thomas

Reign Crockett

Keyla Eberhart

Cherronda Jones

Chavez Mopkins

Londen Brown

Anthony Miller

Omar Villasenor

Willie Williams

Tyrell Thompson

Tyrell Patrick

Kenneth Reed

Damion Alton

John Moore

Jessica Paxton

Shawn Clark

Jarod Rucker

Leon Wilkes

Raymond Casseus

David Times

Ricky Gillespie

Eric Jones

Demon Williams

Edward Tammons

Quintin Lawrence

Verse Johnson

Samuel Jackson

Jamie Connor

Terrenzalo Walker

Reginald Wilkes

Eunice Cain

Reba Battles

Emmitt Dawson Jr

Tywan Smith

Jacara Sproaps

Maurice Partlow

Travis Jones

Justin Hubbard

Latroyn Swopes

Robert Paden

Isadore Jr  Spruell

Christopher Dutton

Patrick  Wilhite

Marquetta Toran

Cerone Baker

Tyra Shannon

Lawrence Strawbridge

Shannon Orr

Dominick Reece

Huston Jr Martin

Cory Goodwin

George Calmese Jr

Gary Peters

Sigaria Shanklin

Caylin Hudson

Romaine Rodgers

Michael Mason

Dexter Pitts

Christopher Catanzaro

Alexander Thomas

Christopher Cooper

Erol Cizmo

Darian Knox

David Baker

Michael Johnson

Devontay Bell

Stacey Griffin

Jean Gibson

Deanthony Curry

Daimond White

Rapheal Peal

Christopher Crawford

Malita Wings

Shawndreaka Lakes

Antoine Bronner

Shaun Hawkins

Lewis Grant

Ronsonie Scott

Joseph Bantle

Monica Shaw

Timothy Grice

Edward Jones

Jerome Courtney

Joe Martin

Antonio Perkins

Christopher Nelson

Erica Young

Aaron Woodson

Shawn Fields

Dwayne Jackson

Nathaniel Dieckmann

Taylor Lane

Lemmuel Williams

Dontay Jordan

Terry Lowe

Lindell Browden

Jamarr Mack Jr

Alexis Conley

Paul Schneider

Sylvester Kendrick

Geremy Brooks

Jonathan Warren

Lonnie Middlebrook

Stacy Isreal

Douglas Coats

Kenneth Jacobs

Patrick McVey

Andrew Wesley

Michael Murphey

Charles Gray

Joseph Hults

Don Clark

Nathaniel Dawson

Joe Mottley

Robert Collins

Rolando Bolden Jr

David Bryant

Jarrell Foster

Damani Aitch

Janae Johnson

David Bewig Jr.

Michael Griffin

Martez Ceasar

Kevin Brown

Keith Armstrong

Arnold Adams

Dwayne Clanton

Sammie  Tabor

Milloria Washington

Jonathan Deturk

Stacey Aubuchon

Maleah Talton

Kiron Carter

Travis Jones

Ronnie Johnson

Albert Stewart III

Gerry Smith

Kevin Moore

Erako Burnett

Dorwin Overall

Michael Hawkins

Keith Harris

James Martin-VonKast

Joseph Reise

Kenneth Allen

Crystal Chapman

Alex Winston

Erick Daugherty

Dannon Smith

Darrion Nelson

Roderick Williams

Dkori Haron

Jirah Campbell

Carole Comer

John Comer

Rebecca Comer

Mussie Gebregziabher

Keith Freeman

Keith Winston

Robert Nelson

Lorenzo Fowler

Linda McLaughlin

Deon Smith, Jr.

Tommie McDowell

Wesley Hughes

Deyon Smith

Samuel Lee

Shannon Larock

Robert Hall

Dana Robinson

Tracy Nailor

Tonya Friziellie

Antoine Quinn

John Wilbourn

Patrick Kinnard

Maurice Parker, Jr.

Jorell Cleveland

Daren Seals

Marvell Kindle

Steven White

Alphonse Williams

Anthony Randle

Darrion Simms

John Trevillion

Jerel Minor

Michael Gales

Owen Cadenbach

Ethan Cadenbach

Faith McCoy

Patricia Pendleton

Denise Opperman

German Sanders

Korrey Miller

Jacobi Boldon

Kenna Daly

Howard Griffin, Jr.

Tommie Tyler

Larry Woods

Sheena Engstrom

Darrikus Tipler

Daikel Fletcher

Dorian Whitlock

Maulik Patel

Phabion Harshaw

Toni Stevenson

Ricky Shields

Michael Townes

Tiandra Johnson

Lawrence Wheeler

Larry Jones

Shabazz Thompson

Kieloah Phoenix

Lamarcus Turner

Jarel Mays

Brandy Morrison

Donald Marks

Carolyn Garvin

Kenisha Davis

Jarrett Richardson

Travis Scales

Cheryl Williams

Dwight Gray

Albert Bass

Kenneth Spalter

Dwayne Gibbs

Mi’Kenzie Bostic

Zeke Clark

Lendell Palmer

John Frost

Larry Barnes

Shun Berry

Jimmie Jones

Tony Portis

Jerome Fleweller

Shooting Justified

Shooting  Justified

Mac Sr Payne

Antonio Womack

And Officer Blake Snyder, St. Louis County Police Department

For more information on the vigil, visit supportvictims.org.