COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just in the last week, three people have lost their lives in the city of Columbus because of domestic violence. Two were victims in apparent murder-suicides.
Residents on Parma Avenue are reeling after Columbus police found a gruesome scene inside a house on Sunday.
According to the Columbus Division of Police, 55-year-old James Barnes shot and killed 59-year-old Beverly Barnes before James shot himself.
“I never heard them arguing down there so if they did it they did it behind closed doors so I have no idea what happened because like I said he cut the tree down they always kept their yard nice and the neighbors around here are always quiet and keep their yards nice,” Rieder said.
Columbus police Deputy Chief Smith Weir says there are about 1,000 murder-suicides every year in the United States.
“Studies have shown that when people are in relationships and there's about to be a break-up and there's some kind of aggravated factor going on, the dangers for escalation and violence are heightened,” Weir said.
Last Tuesday, Columbus police found a couple dead inside apartments on the city's northeast side, with their children left outside. Police say that was also a murder-suicide.
On Thursday, Columbus police say a man killed his female partner in the Northland area.
“As these verbal escalations occur, we don't always get called. We stress to our officers, whether they are in patrol or investigators that it is important if they have probable cause a crime has been committed in domestic violence situation that we will charge or we will take enforcement action,” Weir said.
With the three lives lost last week, there have been 14 domestic violence-related homicides this year.
There were 25 in all of last year and seven the year before.
“I just want to stress that there's resources out there. If you don't feel safe and you see some kind of conflict in a relationship and you feel that it is escalating, please call us, there are counseling services available. There are shelters available and different mechanisms that we can try to keep people safe before it leads to violence,” Weir said.
Weir says these domestic violence situation become more dangerous when guns are involved. He reminds everyone to call police if you are worried for your safety.
If you or someone you know needs help to get out of an abusive situation call the free National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or LSS CHOICES 24/7 hotline at 614-224-4663.