Winnie Dortch, a reporter for WOIO 19 News in Cleveland, is currently in critical condition after being shot during a domestic violence dispute in Lakewood, Ohio, on October 7, 2024.
Police responded to a call about an altercation and found Dortch and a man with gunshot wounds on a sidewalk, Cleveland 19, reports.
The man, believed to be the shooter, died at the scene. Dortch was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she continues to fight for her life.
The specifics of the dispute leading to the shooting are still under investigation.
Authorities are piecing together what exactly transpired before the gunfire that left Dortch critically injured.
The Lakewood Police Department is continuing its investigation to understand the full context of the events, including the nature of the relationship between Dortch and the deceased man who has been identified as 35-year-old Bryant Carter of Bedford.
“This morning, our friend and colleague Winnie Dortch was the victim of a brutal domestic violence attack. She was immediately rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center and underwent surgery for her injuries,” said WOIO News Director Brian Sinclair.
“Our prayers are with her, her young daughter, and the many other victims of domestic violence in our community.“
A father in Kansas shot his wife in the chest during a
“domestic dispute”
while dropping their kids off at elementary school, causing the school to go into lockdown, per the NY Post.
After dropping off their children at Cessna Elementary School in Wichita on Monday morning, the man reportedly shot his wife in the chest. Classes at the school start at 9 a.m., and the police were called at 9:15 a.m. about the shooting. Witnesses saw the man pull out a gun and shoot his wife near the Lyft ride they had ordered to take their family to school.
“She then ran toward the school for help. He chased her,”
Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter told KAKE News.
“At the point that our deputy arrived, he had the gun pointing at her head.”
Easter reported that the deputy took cover until the man moved far enough away from the woman, and then fired two shots at him. The man was arrested and taken to the hospital in critical condition. The woman is also in critical condition.
School staff quickly brought all the children inside and locked down the building. Police informed the community that there was no active shooter threat in the elementary school.
“This is a [domestic violence]-related shooting that happened outside the school. There was no school shooting whatsoever,”
Easter told local outlet, Wichita Eagle.
“Unfortunately, sometimes these things manifest around neighborhoods where there are schools […] I know for parents it can be scary. But the fact of the matter is law enforcement showed up within two minutes of the shooting coming out, and it never got into the school itself where the kids were in danger.”
Domestic violence can affect an adult in several ways. Think about how much damage it can do to a younger mind. Kids are impressionable. What they see, they tend to recreate. That is why living in a violent home can spur violent tendencies in children. For a child, having a parent suffer domestic violence is the same as being a direct victim. Unfortunately, the consequences vary. Some kids tend to be timid and never feel the need to voice out. Others wear the aggression armor they are used to and navigate life with that mentality.
Ways Domestic Violence Shape Kids
Kids from domestic violent homes exhibit short or long-term behavioral patterns. Under the short-term umbrella, they:
Outrightly Show Aggression
This is mostly among their peers and those who they can restrain. It is a direct replica of what goes on in their homes.
Beat Themselves Up
For kids in such situations, they blame themselves for their parents’ fight. Since there is a presence of fear, such children retreat from being seen. They prefer to stay hidden to avoid confrontations. Instead, they take solace in their loneliness.
Drugs And Alcohol Abuse
Affected teenage kids may have friends, but would never reveal their ordeal. However, one way to live out of their misery would be to indulge. They may find peace in keeping late nights only to return drunk. Or they would prefer using pills or needles. For them, it is an escape from reality.
The long-term effects of domestic violence would be:
They Resort To Violence
After a long time as a victim, they become the perpetrators. Instead of calming a storm, they influence it. Kids from homes riddled with domestic violence hardly resolve conflicts peacefully. Their first option is often chaos and inflicting pain on others.
They Fail To Build Meaningful Relationships
It is nearly impossible to keep any type of relationship with such kids. This stems from their behavioral problems. Not many would be able to cope with it, especially when they become adults.
Addiction Issues
After years of finding solace in drinking or using drugs, it becomes their go-to. Ultimately, kids who have experienced domestic violence become heavily dependent on it.
Saving Kids From Violent Homes
As a parent, looking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, especially for kids who have experienced domestic violence. It leaves them feeling empowered. They get to see how much voicing out can affect a situation. Children want to be loved. So when things exit the default setting, they only feel scared. A few ways to help a child in a domestic violent environment would be:
Get Them To A Safe Haven
Let there be a safe place. Ensure that kids are shielded in a more serene environment. It could be with family and friends or with someone they trust.
Lead With Example
In deeds and words, reconfigure their mindset. Since kids follow the examples of parents, create a different pattern. Provide support, care, love, and everything contrary to violence. They can relearn behaviors and begin to emulate them.
Professional Help
Don’t be trapped with in-house advice. Seek help from certified professionals. Third parties know how to analyze matters without bias. They aim to create safety and stability for the child.
Final Note
It is best to get the required help for a child from a domestic violent environment. This is because that person would end up being a menace to themselves, family, and society.
A man from rural Missouri is charged with kidnapping and murdering his ex-girlfriend, per Fox 2 Now. He allegedly made her watch as he dug her grave.
The incident took place on June 20 in a wooded area on Haven of Rest Road. Authorities say that 36-year-old Tony L. Charboneau attacked his ex, Amy Hogue, during a fight, hitting and kicking her. After the attack, Charboneau and his current girlfriend, Brandi L. Luffy, placed Hogue in a manual wheelchair and tied her up with straps.
They gathered shovels, tarps, a pickaxe, and a gun, putting them in the back of Charboneau’s vehicle. They then lifted Hogue, still in the wheelchair, into the vehicle. Charboneau drove to a wooded area near his home, where he and Luffy took Hogue out of the vehicle and brought her to a hill in the woods.
Charboneau used a shovel and pickaxe to dig a shallow grave, according to the authorities. He then took Hogue out of the wheelchair and shot her in the head. Hogue was 43 years old.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
36-year-old Tony Charboneau is accused of strapping his ex into a wheelchair and forcing her to watch him and his new girlfriend dig her grave before killing her.
Charboneau faces charges for the murder of 43-year-old Amy Hogue, along with other related offenses following her… pic.twitter.com/SRSZFOUmld
The chair of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and a board member have resigned following public backlash over the release of a man who went on to fatally stab his ex-girlfriend’s young son, reports the NY Post.
Donald Shelter, the board chair, and LeAnn Miller, a board member, stepped down on Monday after 11-year-old Jayden Perkins was murdered on March 13. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after the man was granted parole. Crosetti Brand, 37, allegedly attacked Jayden and his mother, Laterria Smith, at their home in Edgewater.
Smith survived the attack but suffered a stab wound to her neck. Miller had reportedly approved Brand’s parole the day before the incident, which has caused widespread outrage because Smith had previously sought an order of protection against Brand. A hearing was scheduled for March 13, but the attack occurred before it took place.
The Illinois Department of Corrections and the Prisoner Review Board claim they were unaware of the hearing, though emails suggest otherwise.
“It is clear that evidence in this case was not given the careful consideration that victims of domestic violence deserve, and I am committed to ensuring additional safeguards and training are in place to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,”
Gov. JB Pritzker said.
Brand was paroled in October but was sent back to prison in February after threatening a woman via text. He now faces a murder charge and other violations in connection with Jayden’s death.
A man in Florida has been charged with the brutal shooting of a pastor and his wife, just a week after their wedding, per the NY Post. The suspect, Sony Josaphat, had recently finalized his divorce from the female victim, nurse Marcelline Racine.
The tragic incident occurred while the couple was installing surveillance cameras outside their home in a peaceful neighborhood in West Palm Beach. Witnesses reported seeing Josaphat park across the street from the victims’ house, walk through their yard, and exchange brief words before opening fire with a pistol.
Josaphat left the bodies on the sidewalk and fled the scene, but later turned himself in to the police. Racine’s adult daughter, who was present at the time, witnessed the horrifying double murder.
Josaphat now faces two counts of first-degree murder and has admitted to the killings. He reportedly told arresting officers she had been
“disrespecting”
him and ignoring his phone calls. He also claimed to have been unable to sleep and consumed by rage upon learning that his ex-wife had remarried on her birthday, December 2nd.
According to Racine’s sister, she had been filled with joy and excitement since her wedding day. She was looking forward to starting a new chapter with Williams, who was a pastor at a nearby church.
“She has never been as happy as she was now,”
the sister said.
Josaphat is currently in custody without bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 8.
A Florida woman identified as 44-year-old Sandra Jimenez, was taken into custody by police after allegedly inserting needles meant for her dogs’ rabies shots into her boyfriend’s eye after accusing him of
“looking at other women,”
police said per the NY Post. The incident occurred in Miami according to authorities who stated that the disagreement, which had been ongoing, turned violent on Saturday.
Upon arriving at their residence around 10 p.m., Sandra allegedly took the opportunity to deliver a painful message to her boyfriend. According to an arrest affidavit cited by Fox 35 Orlando, Jimenez
“jumped on top of [her partner] with two rabies needles that were for their dogs”
while he lay on the couch. She reportedly jabbed them into his right eyelid.
The victim immediately contacted the police and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he met with detectives. Jimenez had left the house after realizing the severity of her actions.
Later that night, responding officers found her sleeping in her car outside the residence and proceeded to arrest her. The 44-year-old suspect told officers that her boyfriend’s injury was self-inflicted.
Jimenez was charged with felony aggravated battery and was initially held at the Miami-Dade County Jail. However, she has since been released on bond and is now under house arrest. Her arraignment is scheduled for December 26.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
Florida woman allegedly stabs boyfriend in eye with rabies needles for looking at other women https://t.co/arsYBIzJz4
After months of accusations flying around, Jonathan Majors finally begins trial. It all began with the lawyers for the accused and the plaintiff establishing content that would be declared public. During this time, the MCU star glanced at the potential jurors for the case. However, no one knows which candidates will make it— yet.
Jonathan Majors Domestic Violence Charges
Jonathan Majors’ world came crashing in March following domestic violence crimes levied on him. The Loki actor was accused of assault and harassment by a former girlfriend.
Though the actor has since maintained his innocence, he has not been all that lucky. In Majors’ case, he is viewed as guilty until proven innocent. This is because the actor has been dropped from ads, movies, and even his managers. No one truly wants to associate with him until the mist is cleared.
As Jonathan Majors’ trial set sail, fans should be aware that he faces a jail term of about a year if proven guilty.
Jonathan Majors Domestic Violence Trial With New York Jurors
Twenty-four hours after Jonathan Majors’ first glance at the jurors fit for trial, he will find out the selected few. On Wednesday, as the attorneys went head to head, they all witnessed a 40-man jury. However, Deadline reports that only six will make it to the jury seats. Meanwhile, there will be about one alternate who will look into the proofs provided.
Majors was spotted exiting a Manhattan court on Wednesday but refused to entertain any questions. This is precisely how the jurors are expected to behave as well. Back in the court, it was the presiding Judge, Judge Michael Gaffey, who addressed the jury, saying:
“You can’t Google, FaceTime, Twitter — which I guess is now called X,” he quipped. “You can’t do any Internet searches, social media searches, absolutely anything you can think of that I haven’t mentioned … you cannot do.”
So far, Judge Gaffey has ordered that during jury selection, no lawyer is to address anyone as a victim. Neither the accuser nor the plaintiff will have this tag.
Speaking of the victim, Grace Jabbari, Majors’ accuser who claimed the title, will likely testify at the trial. However, it is not clear if the actor will be present to testify.
The actor Jonathan Majors appeared in court in New York on Wednesday for the expected start of jury selection in a trial in which he is accused of injuring his then-girlfriend during an argument last spring.https://t.co/tDxqRGGTJH
A nursing student in Michigan was kidnapped and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who was a doctor, reports the NY Post.
The victim, Gina Nicole Bryant, 25, was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend Dr. Justin Wendling, 26, at a gas station in La Salle, Illinois.
The suspect later took his own life in Iowa after committing the heinous act.
Wendling was reportedly a medical resident at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc Township, according to La Salle Detective Sgt. Brian Camenisch. Bryant attended the University of Michigan-Flint as a nursing student.
According to Bryant’s oldest sister, Angelica Gintner, she had been living with Wendling in Grand Blanc Township for 11 months since they started dating. However, in late September, Bryant’s mother and sister took action after she revealed that she had been enduring months of abuse from Wendling. They moved her out of the apartment to ensure her safety.
Bryant’s best friend, Charlotte Jolly, expressed her sorrow on Facebook,
“It’s with a heavy heart that we write this post… The family has suffered an unspeakable and tragic loss due to domestic violence.”
Bryant was reported missing after she failed to return to work after her lunch break. Her co-workers said they started receiving concerning messages from her phone.
Surveillance footage revealed that Wendling was waiting for her at her home when she returned home for lunch and showed him leading her to his car at 1:42 p.m. that day. The next day, Wendling contacted his parents and confessed to the crime before taking his own life. They promptly informed the authorities of Wendling’s whereabouts but it was too late.
“The suspect fled to Bettendorf, Iowa. It was reported to the MCSO that as local officers approached the vehicle, the suspect shot and killed himself,”
police said.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
Nursing student kidnapped, killed by doctor ex in murder-suicide spanning 3 states https://t.co/lR93AfYiHZ
A Missouri woman is facing serious charges after driving recklessly with her husband clinging to the hood of her car for over seven miles, reports the NY Post.
Stephanie Boyd, 38, allegedly drove away from her home in Vinita Park after a physical altercation with her 31-year-old spouse. Despite her partner’s still hanging on to the car, Boyd continued driving.
According to a police report, she drove
“recklessly at different speeds”
before reaching Interstate 70 and heading towards the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. She eventually exited near the airport and continued driving on local roads, even passing through a construction zone.
Police attempted to stop Boyd when they spotted her on Airport Road, but she led them on a half-mile chase with her husband still on the hood. Boyd has been charged with first-degree domestic assault and resisting arrest, and she is currently in St. Louis County jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. If convicted, she may face up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
