COLUMBUS, Ohio — Brooke Devinney was killed in a domestic violence incident in southwest Columbus Sunday morning. The 19-year-old was also pregnant at the time, and her unborn child also did not survive.
"This should not have happened, we should not have to go through this. We should not be here,” Billie Devinney, Brooke’s mother, said.
Billie is grieving the loss of her daughter, who she said was killed by a repeat domestic violence offender during an incident Sunday morning.
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"Domestic violence is not… this is not something that any parent should have to go through, ever,” Billie said.
Eyes filled with tears of family and friends, coworkers, former classmates, and even past teachers who shared their favorite stories and memories of Brooke on Wednesday.
"She was more than a classmate, she was like a little sister,” one of her friends said.
"I never felt that kind of love before, but from the short time that I knew her, she just brightened up any room that she stepped in,” a former coworker said.
"She was the most kind person I've ever met,” another friend said.
"Brooke is very loved and so is her baby boy up in heaven,” a former classmate and friend said.
Billie made it clear that more needs to be done to keep repeat offenders behind bars and to help victims.
"They have to stop letting these guys out… If the system can't fight for these women, what do they have? Who's gonna be there for them?" Billie said.
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Devinney’s death is the fifth domestic violence death in Columbus in 2024, according to Columbus police. Since January, there have been more than 3,000 reports of domestic violence in the city.
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.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus Police Detective Jude at (614) 654-4503, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).