Domestic violence situations can turn deadly fast, but help is available

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — New details are now available in the case of a deadly shooting in Harrison Township on Sunday.

Authorities confirmed the incident began as a “domestic dispute,” but have now released details that the man shot his girlfriend before taking his own life.

The home on Wilbur Avenue where the incident took place had a total of nine calls to authorities over the past year and a half. 2 NEWS spoke with neighbors who say they constantly heard arguing and other signs of domestic violence.

Neighbors also said they had seen a surge in crime in the last year.

“Like when I go grab something out of my car, like at night, I always check my surroundings and like, I don’t really trust the area anymore,” said one neighbor.

The sheriff’s office says they’re searching for solutions.

“We have had some complaints of drug dealing and things like that in that neighborhood. And certainly, that’s something that our deputies in Harrison Township have been working on. This specific incident is a domestic-related incident that can happen anywhere, you know, at any time,” said Montgomery County Chief Deputy Matt Haines.

Authorities say the victim, a 55-year-old woman, was shot in the arm before she ran from her home to a neighbor’s house following a fight with her live-in boyfriend.

“When she got to the hospital, they found that she had a bullet lodged in her head,” said Haines.

Crews rushed to the scene after the neighbor called 911. As she was rushed to the hospital, she informed them her boyfriend was still in the home.

“Deputies had to force entry and when they did, they found a 64-year-old male that, it appeared to deputies at the time, had self-inflicted wounds and shot himself,” said Haines.

The Montgomery County Coroner identified that man as Donzie Arnette.

For those in a similar situation, local organizations have resources to help. Montgomery County domestic violence resource organization Artemis Center says these problems impact more than just victims.

“People like to think it’s behind closed doors. But we know that violence spills over into our communities,” said Jane Keifer, executive director of Artemis Center.

Keifer says their doors are always open to those who need it.

“It really is a no-judgment zone. People make their choices for what’s best for them, and we understand that and we’re here to support,” said Keifer.

If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, call the Artemis Hotline at 937-461-HELP (4357). They can provide resources like protective orders, a food bank, and other connections to help victims.

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