Domestic violence goes from behind closed doors into public

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Shots fired behind a gas station. A confrontation in a retail store parking lot. And next month, the trial of a man who is charged with killing an optometrist in the Starkville Walmart.

Domestic violence still happens behind closed doors. But these recent cases show that combative relationships can spill over into the public.

“If he tells you or she tells you ‘I will kill you’, believe it,” Lt. Rhonda Sanders said.

Lt. Rhonda Sanders is no stranger to answering a call for domestic victims. As an officer at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s office, she’s seen it before.

Recent domestic violence cases across north Mississippi have spilled from the home into public spaces.

“You’ve got married couples who have lived on a certain income. And now, they are living on unemployment. So now, the money has changed and the stress is there,” Lt. Sanders said.

According to Keenyn Wald, a licensed counselor at Community Counseling Services, social stresses, unemployment, and family dynamics may be why domestic violence has increased in public.

“I could see just the general, compounding stressful events over the past couple of years, could bring more domestic violence issues into the public. I think as you ramp up stresses and pressure, we can respond in maybe areas where we use to be able to contain ourselves,” Wald said.

Canary Williams, the Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coordinator for Safe Haven, said it’s important victims recognize the signs and quickly get out of a bad situation.

“If those red flags pop up, see them and believe them and just let the relationship go. There’s no way to change an individual unless they want to be changed,” Williams said.

Williams added it’s important to have a plan when leaving an abuser.

“Having a packed bag somewhere like in the trunk of your car, in a place that you can easily get to them and if necessary you can quickly get away without having to worry about packing anything. Everything’s already there and ready to go,” Williams said.

In addition to safely leaving a violent relationship, Wald added that there is still work to be done for a victim after leaving.

“The impact of abuse, the impact of trauma doesn’t go away once the trauma is over. You know, this is an ongoing process,” Wald said. “I think about getting them connected with therapy. Getting them connected with social support.”

If you need help: Call The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE or call Safe Haven at (662)- 327-6118.

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