This story from Monroe, Washington will stop you cold, even amid an endless sea of awful things going on in the world.
An unidentified woman contacted police in that city last Friday night claiming her ex-boyfriend [not pictured above (that’s Travis Decker)] assaulted her, stole her car, and sped away into the night… with her kids in tow.
Per People and others, she told officers the man tried to run her over as she rushed back to the house to check on their two children, who are reportedly just seven years old and ten months old. And when she finally made it inside after the altercation over the car, both kids were GONE.
Authorities in Monroe have not released the suspect’s name, so it’s tough to know everything about what’s going on. But the details laid out in subsequent court documents reported on by KOMO News on Monday and other local outlets paint a terrifying picture.
And here’s the worst part: the mother told investigators that her ex allegedly said he was going to be “like Travis Decker.”
Yes, really. Decker, of course, is the Washington father who infamously kidnapped and killed his three daughters earlier this year before taking his own life. That tragedy, still painfully raw for families across the state, happened just sixty miles away from Monroe. So, to hear it invoked in a fresh domestic violence case sent cops into overdrive.
Officers immediately issued a statewide “Be on the Lookout” alert in this case. Doing so mobilized departments far beyond Monroe and enlisted neighboring counties to join the hunt. The fear, of course, was the children could be in imminent danger.
And then, as the Washington State Police worked with Monroe authorities to prepare an Amber Alert, a thread of hope emerged: a call came in from a Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office deputy who had located the missing vehicle. Even more stunning, he had found the father and both children. And they were alive.
Monroe officers traveled to Kittitas County to take custody of the man, and did so without further incident. Thankfully, that brought an intense search to a close before it could end in another unspeakable tragedy. And even more importantly, the children were apparently safe and sound.
According to a police press release, the father was taken to the Snohomish County Corrections Bureau, where he is being held on $200,000 bail. He faces suspicion of two counts of first-degree kidnapping, felony harassment for threats to kill, and second-degree domestic violence assault.
We’re just happy this story didn’t have a much, much worse ending.
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.
A new documentary, “Hunted By My Husband: The Untold Story of the D.C. Sniper,” tells the story of Mildred Muhammad and her abuse tied to the sniper spree.
Mildred Muhammad, former wife of the convicted D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Alex Wong)
Mildred Muhammad, former wife of the convicted D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Alex Wong)
More than 20 years later, people around the D.C. region still remember the D.C. sniper killings — the randomness, the terror and the weekslong manhunt.
But what’s often forgotten is one of the motives behind the spree — the end of an abusive marriage and a man’s quest to kill his ex-wife and make it look just as random.
A new documentary, out Tuesday, seeks to highlight the roots of that murderous rampage and offer support to those still trapped in abusive relationships.
“Hunted By My Husband: The Untold Story of the D.C. Sniper” airs on the Investigation Discovery Channel as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the network’s No Excuse for Abuse campaign.
“I am constantly erased from the story,” Mildred Muhammad told WTOP. “I am hopeful that the audience will understand, much more than what they do, that abuse happens before the violence does.”
The documentary describes sniper John Allen Muhammad’s abuse toward his ex-wife, Mildred, she said. It also includes commentary from “other experts that are going into great detail to explain to the audience what cohesive control looks like based upon the examples that I give that I experienced in my story.”
She said abusive relationships leave behind more than physical scars. In fact, she said, many victims don’t have those.
“We really concentrate on the 20%, which is physical violence, but we rarely concentrate on the 80%, which is domestic abuse,” Mildred said. “I’m just trying to help others to understand that there is a difference in how we can go about helping everybody to break this cycle of domestic abuse and violence.”
She’s hoping someone trapped in an abusive situation knows they don’t have to suffer alone, and that it’s not their fault.
“The abuser knows exactly what he or she is doing and every act is intentional,” she said.
Far too often, she said, people who learn of abusive relationships ask the wrong questions.
“Stop asking the victim, ‘Why do you stay?’ And start asking the abuser, ‘Why do you abuse?’ When you ask the victim, ‘Why do you stay?’ you are putting the total responsibility of the relationship on to the victim, as if that person left, the abuse will stop,” Mildred said. “Well, I left and he found me in the D.C. area. The better question would be, ‘What has the abuser done that has created obstacles for you to leave safely?’”
More help can be found at the Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233.
Today, Mildred said she and her three children are completely healed and thriving. But she said getting there wasn’t easy.
“Unfortunately, at the time, the only counselors I was running into were the ones who wanted to be famous and use our story to bring notability to themselves,” she said. “So I went to the library, I got a book on counseling, and I learned how to counsel me and my children myself.”
She said it wasn’t just about helping herself through the trauma. As a mother she also had to worry about helping her kids heal, which often meant putting their needs and emotions first.
“The older ones always remember what the younger ones don’t,” Mildred said. “I always reminded them that regardless of what anybody says — doesn’t matter what your dad has done, he is still your dad. … Whatever you want to know about him, I will tell you the good, the bad and the indifferent. Even if it’s harmful to me, because I need you to know the truth. So we dealt with the truth.”
A 35-year-old Kapolei man has been charged in connection with a domestic abuse incident that occurred late Thursday night.
Police said the man assaulted his 34-year-old wife during an argument at their residence around 11 p.m. on Sept. 18. He allegedly punched her several times, choked her and threatened to kill her and their children.
Responding officers arrested the suspect at the scene.
Honolulu Police Department updated today that the suspect was charged with second-degree assault, with bail set at $30, 000.
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After a state representative admitted in court to injuring his wife and assaulting his teenage daughter, Republican leaders are not saying whether they will sanction the lawmaker.
Oklahoma Republican House Speaker Kyle Hilbert has been silent about potential disciplinary actions against Rep. Ty Burns, a four-term Republican representative from Pawnee. At least two fellow Republicans, including Gov. Kevin Stitt, have called on Burns to resign.
The case against Burns was kept secret until Thursday, Aug. 28, after he had pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of domestic abuse and two misdemeanor counts of assault.
Oklahoma law does not require state lawmakers to step down from office if found guilty of a misdemeanor offense. If elected state officials are found guilty of a felony, they are suspended from office under state law.
The events that sparked the investigation into Burns occurred in April, four months before the public was made aware that he was under police investigation. Police said Burns ran a van with his 16-year-old daughter inside off the road. As they were investigating that incident, officers learned that he also had tried to gouge out his wife’s eye in November 2024.
Three House Republicans told The Oklahoman on Friday, Aug. 29, they did not know about the case until it was brought to light through a news release from the Oklahoma attorney general’s office.
Burns was active at the state Capitol six days after police wrote in a court filing that he ran a van carrying his daughter and the girl’s grandmother off the road. According to that affidavit, the teen called her mother and said, “He is going to hurt us. Mama make him stop. Please he is going to kill us.”
It’s unusual that the public was unaware of the case against Burns until after the case was decided, said former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, a Democrat.
One lawmaker who spoke with The Oklahoman, Rep. Jim Shaw, joined Stitt on Friday in calling on Burns to resign.
Rep. Ty Burns is pictured May 28 at the afternoon session of the House of Representatives during the last week of the Oklahoma Legislature at the Capitol.
“These are not allegations,” said the Republican from Chandler. “These are admissions of guilt, of violent crimes that should not be tolerated at all.”
Stitt said being an elected official is a commitment to the public, and Burns should “demand full-time attention to rehabilitation and reconciliation.”
Burns has stepped down from his role as chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee. Hilbert, a Republican from Bristow, has not said whether he will pursue further action.
Jennifer Monies, a spokesperson for Hilbert, said that she would not have answers to The Oklahoman’s questions about any potential sanctions by Friday afternoon.
On Thursday, Hilbert said, “There is no place in society for domestic violence of any kind. I appreciate Rep. Burns taking ownership for his actions and seeking treatment.”
Burns received a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to complete a year-long batterer’s intervention program. The sentence was recommended by prosecutors in the Oklahoma attorney general’s office, which took over the case after Pawnee County District Attorney Mike Fisher recused himself.
Leslie Berger, a spokesperson for Attorney General Gentner Drummond, said the sentence is common for this type of first offense. She said prosecutors believed misdemeanor domestic abuse was the criminal act most supported by the available evidence, but she did not add further specifics.
Drummond later wrote in a post on social media Friday that his office had no “legitimate justification” to pursue felony charges against Burns. He said Burns had received “the strongest punishment possible for a first-time offender with a clean record.”
Under Oklahoma law, assault can be punished by a sentence by imprisonment in a county jail for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. Someone guilty of domestic abuse can be imprisoned for up to a year, charged with a fine of no more than $5,000, or both. For any subsequent offenses, the person faces being sent to state prison for up to four years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Several lawmakers say they were unaware of situation
Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, said he expected Burns to continue being involved in the House Republican caucus moving forward. He added that he was not aware of the investigation into Burns and could not think of a similar situation involving another lawmaker during his 10 years at the Capitol.
“He’s well-regarded up in this area,” Luttrell said of Burns.
Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, said she also hadn’t heard about the situation and questioned whether Burns should remain in office. She called on Hilbert to consider whether further action was necessary.
“It’s not enough for the speaker to say, ‘We’re just so happy that he’s admitted he’s at fault,’” Jenkins said. “No. This goes beyond that. He’s a public servant, and he didn’t perform like one. I can’t imagine what would have happened to me if I were in that situation, because I’m not in leadership.”
Like Jenkins, House Democrats were unaware of the situation until Aug. 28, said House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. She and her caucus joined Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, in calling for Burns’ resignation.
“We were all shocked and horrified when news of the investigation broke yesterday,” Munson said. “It is deeply upsetting for everyone who understands the severity and danger of domestic violence situations.”
… Monday. Under current state law, marijuana establishments must pay a community … the costs imposed by the marijuana establishment. “Reasonably related” means there … offset the operation of a marijuana establishment. Those costs could include …
“Why does my girlfriend hit me?” — Men hesitate to confess this personal crisis. A study says, “Domestic violence against men covers a broad range of violent acts such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or financial abuse.” It’s quite underreported due to the myths surrounding male survivors. According to the CDC, 1 in 10 men have experienced some form of intimate partner violence (IPV). The perpetrators could vary across genders.
Our expert, relationship coach Nandita Rambhia (MSc, Psychology), who specializes in CBT, REBT, and couple’s counseling, addresses the issue of domestic abuse, “Physical violence is absolutely wrong. Regardless of gender, education, or socio-economic status, violence must be treated with the same seriousness and outrage.”
We hope you never reach a stage during the course of your relationship where you find yourself asking, “Is it normal for my girlfriend to hit me?” This article will tell you about 11 potential causes for your girlfriend’s violent behavior and offer helpful tips on how to handle this difficult scenario. By doing this, we intend to raise awareness around intimate partner abuse, encourage empathy, and give victims the confidence to get the support they deserve.
“My Girlfriend Hits Me” — 11 Possible Reasons Why You’re A Victim Of Domestic Violence
Many domestic violence offenders verbally, emotionally, or physically attack without provocation. Anyone who has witnessed domestic violence destroys a family or a relationship may be curious as to why someone would act in such a way in the first place.
Nandita answers, “Abuse frequently signifies a failure on a woman’s part to effectively express and regulate her emotions. It doesn’t excuse the behavior, but it could point to a problem with emotional control and communication.” What then are the primary reasons for abuse? What could be the causes of domestic violence in a relationship that seems happy? We discuss ahead.
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In order to look out for each other, we must be aware of the warning signs of domestic abuse in our families and neighborhoods. And if you are dealing with the “why does she hit me?” crisis personally, recognizing the signs of an abusive girlfriend is crucial for your well-being and safety in the relationship. Knowing these 11 possible reasons for domestic violence in a relationship will help you get ahead of the problem before it escalates even more.
1. Lack of communication skills
Some women may resort to violence when they struggle with effectively expressing their feelings and frustrations. They might not have learned healthy communication techniques or may have grown up in an environment where aggression was used as a means of communication. In such cases, domestic violence can become a way for them to convey their emotions or make their point when they feel unheard or dismissed.
Nandita suggests, “To address abuse, improving communication is essential. Selecting a time period in which there are no conflicts ensures that both the people can communicate without feeling very emotional or overwhelmed.”
2. Her abusive behavior stems from emotional issues
“My girlfriend is abusive, but I could only leave her after three months of going through that emotional pain. She was manipulative every day. And now she says she wants me to come back.” — Merc, a teacher from Pennsylvania, shares with us. A study states, “Female IPV perpetrators tend to engage in more coercive and controlling behavior than physical abuse.”
People with unresolved emotional problems or past traumas may have difficulty managing their emotions in a healthy way, creating a toxic relationship. These unresolved issues can manifest as intense anger, sadness, or anxiety, which can sometimes lead to outbursts of violence as an unhealthy coping mechanism.
3. She has anger management problems
Some ask, “Is it normal for my girlfriend to hit me when she’s mad at something else?” Individuals with anger management problems struggle to control their anger when they become enraged. This can occur when they feel provoked or triggered by a situation or person. The problem can be exacerbated by a lack of awareness around coping skills or a history of unaddressed conflicts. If your girlfriend has anger issues, it should involve open communication and support from both sides, not violence.
4. Relationship stress can lead to her anger issues
“Is itokay for my girlfriend to hit me if I made a mistake?” NO. Ongoing conflicts and tension can create a hostile and emotionally charged environment. In such situations, emotions can build up over time, leading to heightened frustration and anger. Stressors such as financial problems, infidelity, or differing expectations can contribute to relationship abuse. Consider going to individual therapy or couple’s therapy in this case, instead of hitting your partner.
Nandita says, “In order to address and avoid violence in a relationship, it is crucial to understand a partner’s triggers and pinpoint the underlying reasons for the mental or physical abuse. There are different triggers, such as stress, unsolved issues, poor anger management, and old traumas that could lead to the relationship abuse inflicted by your girlfriend.”
5. She could be modeling the behavior she learned from family
If someone grew up in a household where violence was normalized, had an abusive parent, or witnessed family members resorting to violence as a means of resolving conflicts, they may be more likely to replicate that behavior in their own relationships. This is often a learned behavior, where individuals view violence as an acceptable or even expected way to deal with problems.
Nandita suggests, “A good starting point for dealing with male domestic violence in a relationship is making your partner understand the need for therapy to deal with deep-rooted issues. During the recovery period of the abuser, both partners must be compassionate and cooperate with each other in order to pinpoint triggers, pursue therapy as needed, and create more constructive dispute resolution techniques.”
6. Jealousy and insecurity have taken hold of her
Many may wonder, “Is it okay for my girlfriend to hit me if I flirt with someone?” The answer is a resounding no; violence is never acceptable — even if you’re micro-cheating on her. Feelings of jealousy and insecurity can be powerful emotional triggers in a relationship. This person may become fearful of losing their partner or believe that their partner is being unfaithful. The aggressor may believe that using violence will prevent their partner from leaving or straying, even though such actions are harmful and counterproductive.
Substance abuse is a huge red flag in general, as it involves the excessive use of drugs or alcohol, which can have a significant impact on an individual’s behavior and decision-making. According to Nandita, when under the influence of these substances, a person may experience:
Impaired judgment
Reduced inhibitions
Decreased self-control
Intensified negative emotions, which amplifies conflicts
This leads to mental or physical violence as a way to cope with or respond to perceived threats or stressors. If you’re wondering “What should I do if my girlfriend hits me every time she is under the influence of alcohol or drugs?”, it’s crucial to take immediate action to ensure your safety. Tracy (name changed), a reader, wrote to us: “My toxic girlfriend beats me when she’s drunk. But it only happens once a month or so. Is my girlfriend abusive or should I be understanding?”
Yes, Tracy. Your partner is abusive. Nandita adds, “Aggression and impulsive behavior seem to rise with substance misuse. Drugs and alcohol have been shown to worsen underlying emotional problems. However, addiction treatment reduces hostility while also enhancing general mental and physical health.”
These are the possible reasons why you are facing domestic violence
8. “Why does my girlfriend hit me when I’m doing well in life?” For power and control
Do you often sit alone and wonder, “My girlfriend is abusing me ever since I asserted myself a little. Why does she do this?” Domestic violence is a deliberate pattern of behavior used to establish authority, superiority, and surveillance toward a partner.
Some control-freak women use violence as a means to assert power and control over their partners. This is often part of a pattern of abusive behavior aimed at maintaining dominance in the relationship. The abuser may employ various tactics, such as intimidation, threats, or isolation, to make sure the partner doesn’t leave them.
In some cases, past issues or unresolved resentments within the relationship can build up over time, creating a toxic emotional environment. When an individual holds onto these negative feelings without addressing or resolving them, they may release their frustration through physical aggression. Intimate partner violence is used as a way to express their pain, anger, and resentment in a relationship when they feel unable to communicate their emotions effectively.
Chess, a skater from L.A., shares with us, “One day, I finally gathered the courage to reach out to my friend: ‘Please don’t laugh at what I’m about to say. I’m serious. My girlfriend hits me, what should I do? I know she’s mad at me but she won’t tell me the reason.’ Reaching out to trusted people is essential, that’s what I’ve learned from my ordeal. Men face quite a lot of stigma in this area and are often mocked.”
10. She’s going through mental health issues
We’ve often heard people say “My girlfriend’s mental health is affecting me.” Underlying mental health issues can contribute to violent behavior in some individuals. Conditions such as Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Impulse Control Disorders, or any kind of mental illness can affect a person’s ability to regulate their emotions and impulses. Let’s talk about these disorders:
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Individuals with BPD often struggle with intense mood swings, impulsivity, and unstable relationships. If she’s suffering from BPD, she may experience intense anger and fear of abandonment, which can lead to outbursts of violence as a way to manage her emotional turmoil or maintain relationships
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD): People with ASPD may exhibit a pattern of aggressive behavior and manipulation in relationships. They may lack empathy and remorse, making it more likely for them to engage in violent acts without guilt or regret
Impulse Control Disorders: These disorders, such as intermittent explosive disorder (IED), are characterized by difficulty in controlling aggressive impulses. Such individuals may react violently to minor provocations or stressors, which is a huge sign of possible domestic abuse
Research on domestic violence against men, published in The National Library of Medicine, states that prevalence rates of domestic physical violence against men ranged from 3.4% to 20.3% and factors such as alcohol abuse, jealousy, mental illness, physical impairment, and short relationship duration are linked to a higher risk of men becoming victims of domestic violence.
This is one of the key signs of an abusive girlfriend. In certain cultures or communities, physical aggression may be viewed as a legitimate way to resolve disputes or assert dominance. However, this normalization of abuse can create an environment where violent behavior is not only accepted but expected in certain situations. Here’s how it can impact individuals and relationships:
Difficulty identifying abuse: Victims of domestic violence in cultures or communities where violence is normalized behind closed doors may have difficulty identifying that they are being abused. They may rationalize or downplay the violence, not making a big deal out of it and believing it’s a customary way of resolving conflicts; so the abuse continues
Acceptance of violence: When intimate partner violence is normalized, individuals may grow up believing that physical aggression is a normal and acceptable response to conflicts. This acceptance can make it challenging for them to recognize that such behavior is abusive and harmful, deteriorating their mental health. They may be less likely to seek help or intervention when they are victims of violence. This takes a hit on their self-esteem
Breaking free from the cycle of normalized violence often requires education, strong mental health, and awareness of relationship dynamics. Communities and organizations that work to raise awareness about domestic violence can play a crucial role in helping individuals recognize and address abusive behavior.
If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
Is It Normal For My Girlfriend To Hit Me?
It goes without saying that physical abuse in a romantic relationship is aberrant and completely unacceptable, much like emotional abuse and mental abuse. Respect for each other, trust in one another, empathy, and open communication are qualities that define happy, safe, and loving partnerships. You’re not in a relationship to be your partner’s punching bag.
An excerpt from an issue of The British Journal of Criminology clearly states, “Some research findings reveal that women are as likely as men to perpetrate violence against an intimate partner.” Conflicts and disagreements are an inevitable element of human contact in a good relationship, but not abuse or violence. For scenarios of domestic violence, a coercive control checklist will prove to be a good paradigm for a professional to assess your state.
Have they ever hit you? If yes, did they make you feel it was your fault?
By using this checklist, professionals and individuals can better recognize and address situations of coercive control, promoting healthier and safer relationships. No one should put up with abuse, and seeking support and assistance is not a show of weakness; rather, it is a brave move toward ending a damaging cycle.
What To Do If Your Girlfriend Hits You — 7 Ways To Protect Yourself
Remember, playful hitting is different from violence. You may ask, “Is it normal for my girlfriend to hit me on my shoulder with love?” Tell us this. Does it harm you? Does it make you uncomfortable? Does she keep going even if you’re not in the mood to be teased? If not, then you’re still in a healthy relationship. But if you find yourself in a situation where your girlfriend is physically harming you, it’s essential to prioritize your safety and well-being. Dealing with an aggressive girlfriend requires taking steps to protect your well-being and seeking help.
Nandita says, “Seeking expert assistance is crucial when a girlfriend starts to severely mistreat you in your own home. Professionals have the knowledge to delve deeply into the psychological, behavioral, and emotional factors behind the violence. To effectively address these challenges, they can provide direction, methods, and therapeutic approaches.”
Although ending an abusive relationship can be difficult, it is a brave move toward guaranteeing your health and taking back control of your life. Here are seven steps to protect yourself from physical abuse:
1. Remove yourself from immediate danger
“My girlfriend slapped me twice in a week. I went numb. I kept thinking of reasons why my girlfriend is mad at me instead of calling her out on her abusive behavior,” shares Pete (name changed), a reader from New Jersey. If this happens to you, prioritize your physical safety.
If possible, leave the immediate vicinity to avoid further harm. Keep an escape plan ready if you are in a domestic partnership. Go to a public place or a friend or family member’s house if you can. Try to remain calm and discuss the worst-case scenarios with your loved one(s) to get them out of your head.
2. Call the authorities
“My girlfriend beats me” is not something we hear often, and societal stigma plays a huge role here. Contact the authorities or emergency services if you are in immediate danger or have been injured. Law enforcement can and should ensure your safety and provide you with legal protection without disbelieving you.
Addressing this relationship issue immediately is very crucial for you. If you have been injured, seek medical attention promptly. It’s essential to document any injuries, as this can be important if you decide to involve the legal system. Especially if you think your partner can perpetuate violence again.
4. Talk to someone you trust
A case study in the International Journal of Environment, Ecology, Family and Urban Studies (IJEEFUS) discussed that men find it much harder to get out of the trauma of violence because of the disbelief and stereotyped reaction from their friends and families. Which is why we cannot overemphasize the importance of seeking help.
Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor who can provide emotional validation, support, and guidance. Share your experience with someone who can help you through this difficult time. We hope, with time, you go from “Why does my girlfriend hit me?” to “I need to get out of this relationship.”
5. Consider a restraining order
Nothing good can come from staying with someone who hit you. If you fear for your safety and need legal protection, consult with an attorney about obtaining a restraining order or a protective order against your girlfriend. This can legally prevent her from approaching you or your residence or workplace.
It’s not normal for your girlfriend to hit you and this problem should be addressed immediately
6. Document the abuse
A common question: “My girlfriend is abusing me, what should I do to prove that?”Keep a record of any incidents of physical abuse, including photos, videos, dates, times, locations, and descriptions of what occurred. This documentation can be crucial if you decide to involve law enforcement or seek a restraining order.
Reach out to a therapist who specializes in domestic violence or relationship issues. If you have been contemplating, “Why does my girlfriend hit me?”, then seeking such guidance can help you navigate the maze of questions in your head. Just so you know, skilled and licensed counselors on Bonobology’s panel are always here for you.
Nandita says, “Because counselors maintain strict secrecy, seeking counseling in situations of domestic violence can create a safe environment. Restraining orders, contacting law authorities to protect immediate safety, or requesting aid from domestic violence shelters and support organizations are just a few examples of legal actions that can be taken.”
Key Pointers
No matter one’s gender, educational qualifications, or ‘status’ in society, anyone can be a perpetrator or victim of abuse. Safety should always come first
Using physical force in relationships is never acceptable and can result in physical and emotional scarring that lasts a lifetime
Violent outbursts of your girlfriend can be a coping mechanism for excessive anger or anxiety brought on by unresolved emotional difficulties and past traumas
Hostility in a partner might accumulate as a result of relationship stress, disputes, or tension, which can cause emotional outbursts and occasional physical violence
To address the root causes of abuse and create coping and healing methods, professional assistance is advised
Seek help from the law or friends/family or social services, document the abuse, get a restraining order, or move out of your house to somewhere safe to get yourself out of harm’s way
The act of violence within a romantic relationship is a deeply concerning issue that demands both attention and action. While it is essential to understand some of the possible reasons behind domestic violence, it is equally crucial to emphasize that there is never a valid justification for abuse.
Recognizing that you are a victim of domestic violence is the first step toward seeking help and taking action to protect yourself. It is essential to reach out to professionals, support networks, and organizations dedicated to assisting individuals facing domestic violence. It is equally important for society as a whole to raise awareness about domestic violence, challenge harmful gender stereotypes, and promote healthy relationship dynamics. Remember that you are not alone, and there are resources available to help you navigate this challenging situation.
Two Supreme Court cases could completely change gun control laws, one affecting who can legally own a firearm and the other defining what modifications may be made to existing weaponry.
The rulings, to be given sometime this term, could affect hundreds of thousands of people under restraining orders, their alleged victims and half a million gun owners.
‘United States vs. Rahimi’: Restraining Orders & Gun Rights
One of the cases involves Zackey Rahimi, an alleged small-time marijuana and cocaine dealer, who was having an argument with his girlfriend in an Arlington, Texas, car park in December 2019.
As he became aggressive, she tried to flee but Rahimi grabbed her wrist and knocked her to the ground.
“He then dragged her back to his car, picked her up, and pushed her inside, causing her to hit her head on the dashboard. Realizing that a bystander had seen him, he retrieved a gun and fired a shot,” according to a Solicitor General petition to the Supreme Court.
While he was firing the shot, his girlfriend, identified only as C.M. in court documents, escaped from the car and ran.
Police mugshot of Zackey Rahimi, who won the right to own a gun after an appeal court struck down a law that banned people under restraining orders from gun possession. The government is now challenging that decision before the U.S Supreme Court. Arlington Police Department, Texas
Rahimi later called her and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone about the assault. In February 2020, a Texas state court granted C.M. a restraining order, which was valid for two years. The order also suspended Rahimi’s handgun license and warned him that possessing a firearm while the order remained in effect may be a felony.
“Rahimi, however, defied the restraining order. In August 2020, he tried to communicate with C.M. on social media and approached her house in the middle of the night, prompting state police to arrest him for violating the order,” the Solicitor General petition states.
In November 2020, he threatened another woman with a gun and was charged in Texas with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The following month, after someone who had bought drugs from him “started talking trash” on social media, the Solicitor General petition states, Rahimi went to the man’s home and fired an AR-15 rifle into it.
The next day, after colliding with another vehicle, he got out of his car, shot at the other driver, fled, returned to the scene, fired more shots at the other car, and fled again. Three days later, Rahimi fired a gun in the air in a residential neighborhood in the presence of young children.
A few weeks after that, a truck flashed its headlights at Rahimi to caution him against speeding. In response, Rahimi slammed his brakes, cut across the highway, followed the truck off an exit, and fired multiple shots at another car that had been traveling behind the truck. Finally, in early January 2021, Rahimi pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots in the air after a friend’s credit card was declined at a fast-food restaurant, the Solicitor General notes.
Amy Coney Barrett on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on October, 1, 2020. Justice Coney Barrett drew attention to the terms of Zackey Rahimi’s restraining order during Supreme Court oral arguments in Rahimi’s gun rights case on November 3, 2023. Greg Nash/Getty Images
The petition, filed in March 2023, notes that a later police search of Rahimi’s room “uncovered a .45-caliber pistol, a .308-caliber rifle, pistol and rifle magazines, ammunition, approximately $20,000 in cash, and a copy of the restraining order.”
To the seeming disbelief of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Rahimi won his right to gun ownership after a Texas federal appeal court struck down a 1994 law that prohibits people under a restraining order from owning a gun.
“That holding was profoundly mistaken,” the Solicitor General’s petition told the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear a government appeal to the Texas court’s decision.
In oral arguments on November 3, Coney Barrett appeared to have barely disguised contempt for Rahimi, whatever her view of the Second Amendment arguments. When Justice Clarence Thomas asked Rahimi’s lawyers how criminal danger could be determined by a civil restraining order, Coney Barrett pulled out a copy of Rahimi’s restraining order and read from it.
She said Rahimi was instructed to stay at least 200 feet away from his girlfriend and child because of the physical risk he posed to their safety.
Rahimi is one of two major cases that will help shape gun control law, legal analysts believe.
‘Cargill v. Garland’: Bump Stock Ban
The other is Cargill v. Garland, on the issue of whether a bump stock device is a “machine gun” because it is designed and intended for use in converting a rifle into a rapid-fire machine gun.
A bump stock is attached to a semi-automatic firearm to enable it to fire bullets more rapidly.
The case is a challenge to a regulation issued after America’s worst-ever mass shooting, in which 60 people were killed and over 850 were injured at a county music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The killer, Stephen Paddock, had used semi-automatic rifles equipped with bump stocks while firing at the music festival from his hotel room.
Amid public outrage, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives [ATF] issued a rule concluding that bump stocks are machine guns and ordered that anyone who owned one should destroy it or drop it at a nearby ATF office to avoid facing criminal penalties.
Stock images. The Supreme Court will hear two cases this term that could completely change gun control laws. George Frey / Stringer / designer491/Getty Images
That order is now being challenged by Michael Cargill, an army veteran and Texas gun shop owner, who says he purchased two bump stocks and that the ban violates his Second Amendment rights.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance, which supports Cargill’s Supreme Court challenge, said the bump stock ban affects over 500,000 gun owners.
According to New York University constitutional law professor, Peter Shane, Rahimi and Cargill could help bring clarity to gun ownership after the confusion caused by last year’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, in which the Supreme Court urged lower courts to ensure that gun laws are “consistent with the nation’s historical tradition.”
“There are a lot of gun regulations on the books throughout the country. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court decision in Bruen has generated huge uncertainty as to what kinds of regulation are permissible,” Shane told Newsweek.
Justice Clarence Thomas’s decision for the majority in Bruen caused major confusion, especially as it urged lower courts to look to historic precedent without defining that precedent. His ruling struck down New York’s 1911 Sullivan Act, which required a person applying for a concealed pistol permit to show “special cause” for doing so.
Thomas wrote that, for a gun law to be constitutional, “the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with the nation’s historical tradition”—a phrase that has been interpreted in many ways by the lower courts.
Research by Jacob Charles, a law professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, shows that 12 state and federal laws have been struck down, either completely or in part, since the Bruen decision, with little consistency in how it has been interpreted.
Writing in the Duke Law Journal last January, Charles was highly critical of the historic legacy approach of Bruen, which he says is “an extension of an increasingly historically-focused Supreme Court” that “imbues an absent past with more explanatory power than it can bear.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Source: Tommaso Boddi LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 13: DomiNque Perry attends the red carpet premiere of the HBO Max Original Comedy Series “RAP SH!T” at Hammer Museum on July 13, 2022.
Insecure star DomiNque Perry has accused her former co-star and co-parent, Sarunas J. Jackson, of abuse inside an explosive declaration filed in California Superior Court Nov. 28, according to court documents obtained by People. The complaint was filed two weeks after the actress alluded to being a victim of abuse on social media.
According the petition filed Tuesday, Perry alleged that she “experienced emotional volatility,” “intimidation” and “bullying” from Jackson and members of his family over the past five years. The actress, who starred as Tasha on Insecure, also claimed that she endured “undeserved stress” as well as “mental and physical abuse” due to Jackson and his relatives’ “controlling and narcissistic behavior.”
Perry, who shares a 5-year-old daughter named Zen with the Games People Play star, maintained that she was never romantically involved with the actor. Inside her petition, the Get Hard actress claimed that Jackson has constantly “blamed” her for their daughter being “on the Autism Spectrum.”
“I was always nervous because I felt that I wasn’t ever good enough by the Petitioner and the family,” the complaint added, according to People.
Perry claimed that Jackson choked her during a “heated” conversation in March 2020.
According to the filing, in March 2020, Perry alleged that Jackson choked her after they had a “heated” conversation about “a person in the industry,” Radar Online noted. As their conversation became hostile, the star alleged that the 33-year-old actor “began to repeatedly call her “stupid” and allegedly said, “you talk to your mother like that, not me.” When tensions flared, Jackson allegedly “became more angry and grabbed” Perry by the throat and started “choking” her.
During the heated dispute, Zen came out of her room and began to cry. Perry claimed that Jackson let her neck go once their daughter entered the room. “He was so angry that he had blood coming from his mouth where he bit his tongue,” the declaration stated.
Jackson allegedly returned to Perry’s residence “a few weeks later” with “scratches all over his neck and face,” according to the filing. “I asked what happened and he stated ‘he cornered his mom and they were fighting.’ The choking on his behalf is the norm. He is violent with women,” Perry, who is also embroiled in a heated custody battle with Jackson, alleged.
In his response declaration filed Nov. 16, Jackson vehemently denied Perry’s claims of abuse.
“It is unclear where Respondent’s allegations of emotional volatility and intimidation are coming from,” his declaration stated. “My family and I have always welcomed Respondent with open arms, inviting her to family events and showing her love and support in more ways than one. In return, Respondent has defamed my character to others, making them believe I am an absent father.”
Jackson penned that he worried Perry’s allegations would result in “repercussions” for his acting career.
The complaint comes just a few weeks after Keke Palmer was granted a temporary restraining order against Darius Jackson, Sarunas’ younger brother.
As previously reported, Palmer, 30, was granted a domestic violence restraining order against Darius Jackson — the father of her 8-month-old son, Leodis. The Nope star alleged that Darius assaulted her on more than one occasion. During one heated dispute, Palmer alleged that Darius “lunged” at her neck and “physically attacked” her after he “trespassed” into her home. Under the order, Darius must stay 100 yards away from Palmer and their son until further notice.
Perry posted a meme of Michael Jackson eating popcorn shortly after Keke Palmer’s mother, Sharon, put the brothers on blast for their alleged abusive behavior. Some netizens pondered whether she was making fun of Palmer’s situation, but the actress clarified her intention in a statement posted to Instagram Nov. 10.
“There was a repost of a post I made on yesterday. (There’s situations where you laugh to keep from crying.) Let me give clarity. I would never laugh at ANYONE that is subject to domestic abuse, female or male. As it’s known abuse comes in different definitions, silent and physical,” she wrote, hinting that she was also a victim of abuse.
“Only the people enduring such behavior truly understand the effect. Women have been manipulated, abused, lied on for centuries, and put their head down for fear of not being believed. We need to stop being afraid.”
Perry added:
“I may not be at the highest platform in my career just yet to be heard and/or supported by the public, but whenever that time comes, everyone will listen. God is in control of my steps and I’ll respond accordingly. I will be vindicated in his timing.”
On Thursday, Keke Palmer filed a temporary restraining order against her former partner Darius Jackson and requested sole custody of their 8-month-old son, Leodis.
The filing, viewed by People, is rife with accusations against Jackson. Palmer alleges that on Sunday, “Darius trespassed into my home without my knowledge or consent, threatened me, then physically attacked me—lunging for my neck, striking me, throwing me over the couch, and stealing my phone when I told him I was going to call the police.” (Jackson could not immediately be reached for comment.)
The incident began when Jackson, a former college football player and current fitness instructor, came over to take their child to a football game, but discovered the baby was with Palmer’s sister visiting family. They argued, and Jackson allegedly “knocked me backwards over the couch, stole my phone out of my hands, and then ran out of the house.”
This, the filing states, was captured on Palmer’s home security system and will be played in court during a hearing.
When Palmer went outside to get the phone Jackson “nearly hit me with his car.”
The Los Angeles County judge granted a temporary restraining order, which says that Jackson must stay 100 yards away from both the actress and their son. She was also granted temporary sole custody, according to People.
Palmer lists several incidents over the course of the last two years, some of which she says her home security system captured. In the filing, the actor alleges there were “many instances of physical violence, including striking and grabbing me around the neck, descriptions of Darius destroying my personal property, including diaries and prescription eyeglasses, throwing my belongings into the street, throwing my car keys to prevent me from driving away, hitting me in front of our son, spewing profanities about me to our son, threatening to kill himself with a gun if I left him, harassment, and other physical and emotional abuse.”
“The abuse during our relationship was not just physical, but emotional and manipulative,” the filing continues. “Darius would ‘love bomb’ me and make me feel like I was the most important woman in the world, only to get extremely distant and cold over a perceived insult to him. If we were at a party or event, and I spoke with one person too long or looked at someone a ‘certain way,’ he would storm off in a rage—telling me I was ‘slut’ and a ‘whore,’ accuse me of cheating on him, and that I did not love him. Darius had a way of gaslighting me to make me feel like I was doing something wrong even though I wasn’t.”
In one incident from April 2022, Jackson allegedly accused Palmer of flirting with a woman while they were out to dinner in Santa Barbara. The former couple left to return to their hotel early.
When I was newly engaged in 1986, my grandfather sent a Christmas gift of cash. I knew just what to do with it. There was a strapless, red sequined dress with a chiffon ruffled skirt in the window of a Santa Monica boutique that I’d been eyeing for weeks.
After working my way up from receptionist after film school, I became the west coast production manager for a commercial and music video company on the legendary Sunset Boulevard. For a girl from Ohio, I was living the dream. This dress was my destiny. It was sexy and sparkly and sophisticated–everything I always wanted to be.
Unfortunately, my salary barely covered my rent-controlled apartment by the beach and the big-shouldered suits that camouflaged my figure at work. No way could I afford such Madonna-inspired splendor. But thanks to my grandfather, I could swing it for Christmas.
Leslie Lehr pictured on a lifeguard stand (L) and with her ex-husband (R). Leslie Lehr
My grandfather, A. L. Levine, was a big art collector. The Picasso and Botero in his Palm Beach cottage were destined for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for the Atrium that now bears his name. And this dress was art!
I decided to splurge on it and surprise my fiancé before a big New Year’s Eve party. I curled my long hair and layered on lipstick. I was so excited that my hands shook as I zipped up my dress. I felt like a balloon filled to bursting. “Ready?” I called.
When I tiptoed into the living room and twirled around, my fiancé shook his head. “I hate sequins,” he said. I blinked in confusion. I loved sequins. I planned to wear them to get an Oscar one day. How could he not understand this was the real me?
I kept the dress on, but the bubble had burst. We’d met at work in Hollywood, so he saw plenty of sequins. He thought they were tacky. But I didn’t feel tacky; I just didn’t feel as beautiful as before.
At the party, when my fiancé went off to chat with some friends, other men approached. They disagreed with my fiancé; my dress was a hit. I tried to enjoy their compliments, but they didn’t count. I had pledged my heart.
If only I’d paid more attention. When I left to work freelance and started getting screen credits, my husband was proud. He still had more money, though, and that mattered more. When my first novel won an award, he took a job out of the country and couldn’t join me to collect it. He liked me best in my bathroom. He took photos of me baking Christmas cookies with our daughters. Or, rather, decorating them; I used Slice N Bake dough. For another book, I was interviewed on the CNN morning news. He didn’t wake the girls to watch. And somehow, he forgot to record it. I buried the dress deeper and deeper in the closet.
A decade later, my sister asked me to wear the dress to take pictures for her photography class at USC. My husband was happy to help. I dug out the dress and my sister got an A. We sent a copy to my grandfather, who loved it. By now, it was a period piece from the 1980’s. But I never wore that dress again in public. I hung the picture in the hallway and admired it through the glass.
Later, I turned a bedroom into my office. I stored my red dress in the closet with extra supplies. One night, when my husband was home between freelance film jobs, I was on a roll. I kept writing past six, which was when he usually expected dinner.
Then I heard him shouting for me from the kitchen. I turned off the computer and ran in, ready to take over. He turned around from the sink and punched me. “It was an accident,” he said. He didn’t see me standing there. He was an ex-Marine. Had he meant to hit me, I’d be “out cold.”
That was true, I thought, as I lay on the floor where I fell. That’s where the girls found me.
I hid in my office for a few days until the bruising went down, where I came across my dress again in the storage closet. My swollen lip matched the dress for a week. My husband never hit me again, but the party was over.
Five years after that incident, we finally divorced. I should have seen it coming–seen the bright color like a stop sign, a cautionary tale. It’s still my favorite dress–the shiny sequins and the fluffy skirt–and I can still zip it up. There are no tags now to tell who made it, but if there were, I would thank the designer.
But its exuberant appearance is not the only reason why I love the dress. Instead, I keep the dress close as inspiration; every once in a while, I try it on and twirl. The very sight of it makes me smile.
When I look at it now, this dress is more than a red stop sign. This dress reminds me of that girl who wanted so much out of life–and now she’s got it. It reminds me of who I wanted to be, and who I am.
Leslie Lehr is the prize-winning author of the pop culture memoir, A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me — and You, exploring the challenge of women today in navigating a new path between sexy and sacred. She is the Novel Consultant for Truby’s Writers Studio, a judge for the WFWA debut novel contest, and a member of PEN, the Authors Guild, WGA, Women In Film, the ACLU, and The Women’s Leadership Council of LA.
All views expressed in this article are the author’s own.
Do you have a unique experience or personal story to share? Email the My Turn team at myturn@newsweek.com.
Angelina Jolie used her public platform to shed light on systemic challenges and misconceptions faced by nonwhite medical patients, especially those who are survivors of domestic violence. The actor, activist, and mother of sixwrote an op-ed published Wednesday in the American Journal of Nursing, highlighting medical technology that allows for bruises to be visible on darker skin tones.
In the essay, titled “Addressing Health Inequities in Survivors of Domestic Violence,” Jolie writes that “medical research, imagery, and training continue to center on white skin, not on how injuries present differently in patients with darker skin tone.
“As the mother of children of multiple races, I have seen my children of color be misdiagnosed, at times in ways that endangered their health,” she wrote.
Jolie describes a visit with forensic nurse Katherine N. Scafide in her laboratory, where she saw how a handheld device could highlight bruising on darker skin tones that had been invisible to the naked eye—especially important, as Jolie says, because of “the unacceptable, disproportionate impact of domestic violence on communities of color in America.” Because bruises can be hard to see, the extent of patients’ injuries is often underestimated and undertreated. While Jolie acknowledges that this is just one step toward providing equitable health care for survivors of color, it’s one that’s within reach.
She wrote about talking with a nurse following a medical procedure for her daughter Zahara in which Jolie was told to look out for the skin around Zahara’s incision turning pink—a sign of infection for those with lighter skin tones, but not for Zahara.
“Even as my family has access to high-quality medical care, simple diagnoses are missed because of race and continued prioritization of white skin in medicine,” Jolie wrote. “At a societal level, racial disparities in health care affect outcomes for millions of people. From technology to improving diversity and representation in medical research and training, it is past time to embrace new solutions.”
Jolie also mentioned advocating for the use of unbiased forensic medical technology to be included in the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, which has become law.
Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences, and has since said that Pitt was physically abusive toward her and their children on a flight in September of that year. In response, an attorney for Pitt has said he’s “been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation.” The divorce is still not finalized.
When reached for comment, Johnson responded with the following statement via her personal attorney, Rachel E. Juarez:
“Last November, my client Liz Johnson made the extreme decision to seek protection for herself and her three dogs from her partner Will Aghajanian. Over a decade together, what began as a deep love for him had deteriorated into an unsafe, abusive, and isolated environment for her.
She chose to do this in silence and secrecy—fleeing her home without alerting anyone as to what she was doing. It is and has always been Ms. Johnson’s intention to maintain the privacy of this situation, and to get through this as quickly as possible.
What we are witnessing publicly play out is what Will has done behind closed doors for years. Exercising control over Liz through humiliation and confusion. We otherwise will not comment on his actions and ask that you respect her privacy as she continues to heal.”
Horses opened in late 2021 to glowing reviews. A New York Times headline declared it “A Hollywood Hangout Where the Food Is Actually the Point”; last January, the LA Times called it “a new modern LA institution.” VF featured the restaurant in our annual Hollywood issue, citing the legacy of its building: Between 1934 and 2007 the space was home to the British pub Ye Coach & Horses, frequented by Richard Burton, Alfred Hitchcock, and Quentin Tarantino. Under Johnson and Aghajanian, celebrities from Will Ferrell to Chrissy Teigen dined at the restaurant; in late 2022, Jeff Bezos and Jay-Z were photographed there together on a typically closed Monday night. In meteoric time, Horses became the kind of hard-to-book table favored by a particular set of industry insiders, for which having a contact to text for a reservation garnered cache. The rumors and reported divorce filings have thus been met with tantamount, if morbid, interest.
In a metatwist of one whisper, A24 supposedly secured the rights to an as-yet-unpublished feature about these reports. Untrue, according to a spokesperson for A24: “can confirm not us!” “This is an emergency episode,” said Jason Stewart, cohost of the “bicoastal elite” podcast How Long Gone, in Friday’s installment. “AI is going to replace us creatives,” he joked, alluding to the episode’s content. “I’m just kidding, it’s [about] Horses.”
The couple’s rapid ascent in the food world had not been without controversy. In March 2020 the couple suddenly departed their posts as head chefs at Nashville’s acclaimed The Catbird Seat, which they had held for a year. “While it’s true the restaurant itself is defined as a chef incubator intended to develop young chefs and give them their own eventual restaurants, this stint seems curiously short, especially given the recent national spotlight,” Eater wrote at the time of their departure. Johnson, now age 32, and Aghajanian, 31, had been co-nominated for the James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year only a week before. (In Aghajanian’s complaint, his friend Sam Burchett alleged that Johnson physically abused Aghajanian at the restaurant. The Catbird Seat did not respond to VF’s questions by press time.)
In August 2022, Eater reported that Ken Friedman had done the walkthrough of the Horses space with Johnson and Aghajanian. Friedman, in one of the restaurant industry’s earliest #MeToo-era shakeups, left the Spotted Pig following an investigation by New York’s attorney general that found he had sexually harassed 11 staff members. (Per the New York Times, Friedman agreed to pay $240,000 and a share of his profits to former employees.) Horses denied Friedman’s involvement in its business, but Friedman maintained that he held a twenty percent stake in the restaurant, telling Eater, “People know, the word’s out. Why should I hide it?”
Earlier last year, in April, the New York Times reported that Johnson and Aghajanian had tapped another controversial figure for their newest venture, Froggy’s, set to open in New York: Thomas Carter, the former Estela co-owner whose partner Ignacio Mattos bought him out of the restaurant following a report of toxic workplace behavior. Former employees alleged that he made comments about his genitals and was prone to calling various staff members, at various times, a “fucking retard.” (A statement to the Times approved by both Carter and Mattos confirmed his departure but did not comment on allegations.) Johnson told Eater in April 2022 that she had hired him “because we were seeking someone whose expertise would complement the vision for the project, and would help lighten the load from a business perspective,” but that “Thomas will not be present on the floor day-to-day.” This week, Carter confirmed to Eater that he is not “a managing partner” nor involved in the restaurant’s future plans.
On Wednesday night the restaurant posted a message to their Instagram account: “Will Aghajanian has been on a leave of absence from Horses as of November 2022, and since then he has not been involved in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. Under the guidance of Chef Liz, our incredible front and back of house teams are working to continuously make Horses what she had always intended it to be – a place of joy and celebration. Horses has no further comments outside of this statement.”
SHREVEPORT, La. – A man and two children are dead following a murder-suicide in Shreveport Tuesday night.
According to authorities, a dispute involving a man and woman occurred around 8 p.m. at a mobile home on Klug Pines Road. The woman was injured and the man involved then took the two children from the home by force to Bill Cockrell Metro Park on Pines Road.
The man, identified Wednesday afternoon as Anthony P. Smith, 25, then shot both children and turned the gun on himself at the park. Police found Smith, and a baby less than a year old dead inside of a car. The other child was taken to Ochsner LSU Health where the toddler died early Wednesday morning, police said.
Police said Smith and the woman did know each other.
“We never want to see violent crimes, but when you see violent crimes that are affecting small children and in this case one of these children was less than a year old,” police spokesman Cpl. Chris Bordelon said. “That is a certain type of evil that is really hard to put into words and it’s very hard to comprehend,”
The Caddo Coroner’s Office confirmed the identity of the victims as 10-month-old Lillian Rose Marter, called Lily by her family, and 2-year-old Ronnie Marter.
The children’s grandmother, Brandy Moreno, has created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.
Lilly’s and Ronnie’s deaths are the 44th and 45th in Shreveport this year.
