MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — There are new numbers related to intimate partner violence in Mecklenburg County, but behind every number is a person with a story.
Editor's Note: This story discusses domestic violence, which may include descriptions of violent acts. Reader discretion is advised.
Melody Gross endured abuse for several years, until she finally found the strength to leave.
“You’re not powerless, you can get the power back," Gross, founder of Courageous SHIFT, said.
Now, she wants to be a source of hope for other victims.
“The beauty of it honestly is that I’m still here to tell the story, and I’m not a statistic,” Gross said.
But unfortunately, some people do become a part of the numbers.
A new report shows in Mecklenburg County, from 2018 to 2022, 29 people were killed due to domestic violence. The average age was 29 years old and most were Black women. More than half were killed from gunfire.
“A gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%, it’s almost inevitable," Tracie Campbell with the Mecklenburg County Office of Violence Prevention said.
Other report’s findings include:
- More than 15,000 domestic violence protection orders were filed with the 26th Judicial District Court from January 2018 to June 2022.
- Community Support Services completed more than 4,000 intakes for intimate partner domestic violence counseling services for adults and children from July 2018 to June 2022.
- From July 2021 to June 2022, more than 1,000 households experiencing homelessness or housing instability disclosed a history of domestic violence.
“This is such a prevalent issue in our community," Tanisha Patterson-Powe with the Domestic Violence Advisory Board said.
Experts say the numbers don't paint the whole picture, as many people may not come forward.
Advocates are calling for change, encouraging those who are afraid for their lives to ask for help.
“There is hope, there is support out there," Gross said.
The report was developed by the Community Support Services department in collaboration with its partners to raise awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence and to equip local leaders with data to inform decisions.
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services is planning a series of community conversations that will further explore the connection between intimate partner violence and substance use.
"The Community Conversations Series will provide a way for Mecklenburg County and its partners to meet residents where they are and open up dialogue about the overlap between domestic violence, substance use, and mental health issues,” Elyse Hamilton-Childres, director of Mecklenburg County Community Support Services’ Prevention and Intervention Division, said.
The dates and locations of the Community Conversations series will be announced as they are scheduled.
Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
If you or a loved one is facing domestic violence, help is readily available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Resources for help are available in both North Carolina and South Carolina.