COLUMBUS, Ohio — A woman and a baby in east Columbus are the 17th and 18th victims of fatal domestic violence incidents in the City of Columbus in 2024.
The Columbus Division of Police believes 22-year-old Jaden Robinson shot the victims, then himself. It was the fifth time police investigated an incident as a murder-suicide in the city in the last three weeks alone.
Police called the numbers “staggering” and “alarming”.
“We beg and plead people don't, don't resort to firearms. Just settle your disputes. If you're in a potentially domestic violence relationship, reach out and get help. We don't want any more victims out of this,” said Sgt. Joe Albert.
The number of people in need of support for domestic violence in Ohio has increased in recent years, according to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.
“In the recent years since COVID, the numbers across the state have been well over 100 [domestic violence fatalities]. A disturbing trend we have seen in the last reporting years is that Franklin County consistently has the higher number of lethal domestic violence incidents in comparison to other metro counties like Cincinnati and Cleveland,” said Maria York, policy director for ODVN.
In 2023, there was a 35% increase in survivors reaching out to ODVN for resources like housing, legal advocacy and support groups, and a 34% increase in survivors calling the hotline, York said.
The increase in demand for help has put a strain on resources.
“We don’t have the resources or capacity to serve everyone, so we are seeing one out of two survivors being turned away from safe shelter just because the demand is there, and the resources and capacity is not,” York said. “That is not to deter anyone in an abusive relationship from reaching out because what ODVN is doing, we have a hotel relocation program, so we are temporarily putting survivors in hotels to get them out of that unsafe housing option.”
York said having a firearm in a home can exponentially increase the risk of homicide, even if it is meant for a victim’s protection.
“A lot of times when we talk to survivors too, they say maybe I will get a gun for protection. The reality is in that type of relationship if they have a gun on them if they are still living with their abusive partner, the reality is that can be turned against them. The weapon that is supposed to be for their protection is used to murder them,” she said.
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.
York said making that phone call is the first step to getting help.
She said advocates can connect victims with support groups, legal resources, temporary housing or whatever the victim needs.
Survivors who do not want to make a phone call can chat with ODVN online here.