Houston event bring awareness amid recent domestic violence incidents

Fox26 News at 9 starts now. Good evening and thank you for joining us for Fox26 News at 9. I'm Olivia Dance and unfortunately a violent 24 hours across Greater Houston leaves two dead and another fighting for her life in two separate incidents police say stemmed from domestic disputes. In Willis investigators say an ex-boyfriend showed up at a home and shot his ex-partner's current boyfriend before the woman then returned fire. Both men died at the scene. Meanwhile, in Southwest Houston, police are still searching for a 35-year-old man accused of shooting his girlfriend in an apartment courtyard before fleeing. Fox26's McKenna Earnhardt is here now in studio. And McKenna, today community advocates gathered to shine a light on why these dynamics can sometimes escalate so quickly. Yeah, that's right, Olivia. Today at Emancipation Park, families and advocates gathered for Blake Thomas Day to address violence prevention head-on. And according to survivors and law enforcement alike, domestic incidents rarely begin with a gunshot. They often build over time through control, isolation, and fear. Investigators in Montgomery County say Friday night's double fatal shooting on Pleasure Lake Drive started over a domestic altercation between two men in their 20s. The case will eventually go Before a grand jury, less than two hours later in Houston, police say a 39 year old woman was shot twice on Stella Link Road by her boyfriend as she visited his family for survivors like Angela Johnson, who founded the Hobby Activist after decades of personal experience and a career in law enforcement. The deadliest moment in any abusive relationship is when a victim tries to walk away. The most dangerous time is for them to try to leave, and that's when the abuser is at an all-time high. At that point, it's more dangerous. It's dangerous. And a lot of times they're afraid because they don't have resources. Thank you. Thank you. They don't have the resources. Thank you. They either don't have financial, they don't have a car, they maybe don't have a job. And then they look around the house and they're like, I've got to leave everything that I have. The abuser takes away any means that they really have in order for them to leave. Thank you. And that's why sometimes you see that the survivor becomes a victim. Johnson says the greatest need right now is expanding immediate safety nets, including emergency transportation and shelter and beds, so victims have a viable escape route before situations turn deadly. Houston police are still searching for that suspect in the Stella Link shooting, while Montgomery County investigators say there's no ongoing threat to the public in Willis. If you or someone you know is currently in an abusive situation, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available. That hotline is 24-7. 7 at 1-800-799-SAFE. Olivia. All right. Thank you, McKenna. Some good information there.