New report shows alarming number of domestic violence deaths in Arizona

In the last 10 years, 1,255 Arizonans have died due to domestic violence.

That is from a new report by the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. On average, the state sees about 105 domestic violence deaths per year, which is above the national average.

“Each year, Arizona continues to rank [around] the top-10 in the numbers of domestic violence deaths every year,” said Kellie MacDonald-Evoy, public policy advocate with the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.

According to the report, 61 percent of domestic violence deaths in Arizona involve a firearm.

“Overall, this is very alarming,” MacDonald-Evoy explained. “What’s really kind of upsetting to us is that we haven’t seen much of a change, and the firearms themselves are something we take very serious.”

During the period between 2005 and 2015, 240 domestic violence deaths in the state were suicides. Eighty-three perpetrators were killed by law enforcement.

Domestic violence has also claimed the lives of two law enforcement officers and 32 bystanders over the last decade. MacDonald-Evoy stated that the coalition is working to reduce the number of domestic violence deaths in the state. The coalition is partnering with fatality review teams around Arizona.

“These teams work to provide a systematic way of exploring and examining domestic violence homicides,” MacDonald-Evoy said. “They focus on holding people accountable to prevent future violence and future homicides.”

The coalition also provides training and education outreach to make people aware of the dangers of domestic violence.