The following OpEd has been submitted by TurnAround, Inc. in memory of Jacobi Jones, a 4-year-old boy who was shot and killed by his father on Christmas Eve 2024 in the Rossville area.
A year ago, Jacobi was a happy boy who loved playing with his baby sister, Peyton, and his toy dinosaurs. On Christmas Eve, everything changed when Jacobi lost his life to domestic violence involving a gun. His mother and younger sister were also shot.
His death brought the community together in grief. People held vigils and walks to honor him and to show that domestic violence is a real problem in our lives.
Many hoped Jacobi’s death would lead to real change and move the conversation forward about domestic and intimate partner violence.
Still, domestic violence often stays hidden and overlooked among today’s many challenges.
We talk more openly about domestic violence now, but people still hesitate and sometimes blame victims. If we do not see the power and control in violent relationships, it becomes harder to help before it is too late.
The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence shared 2024 data showing that Maryland averages about 47 domestic violence deaths each year.
Murder-suicides are common in these cases.
Across the country, Everytown for Gun Safety reports that since 2014, the risk of a woman being killed by an abuser has gone up five times.
Each month, about 19 women die in domestic violence homicide-suicides involving guns.
These numbers are about real people whose lives, once full of hope, ended in tragedy. In the U.S., about 20 people every minute are physically abused by an intimate partner, which adds up to over 10 million women and men each year.
We would not accept this from strangers, so we should not accept it from those closest to us. It is easy to think we would act differently or that it would not happen to us, but the numbers show how common and close this issue really is.
At TurnAround, we see these violent situations far too often. Last October, we renamed our Dundalk Center the “Jacobi Center.” Here, survivors and their children can use services like showers, laundry, therapy, and case management.
Our advocates help families with things like reporting to law enforcement, getting protective orders, or finding financial support. The center also offers community education and engagement.
When we face the reality of abuse together, our voices are stronger in saying ‘enough.’ Survivors should not have to start over alone, and we should not forget those lost to domestic violence.
We need real ways to hold people accountable and make our communities safer. Help us keep Jacobi’s memory alive as a force for change. Domestic violence should never be accepted.
Join us by spreading awareness, supporting survivors, and advocating for survivor-centered policies that keep families and communities safe.
TurnAround, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking in Baltimore City and County, Maryland, offering counseling, advocacy, and support for individuals and families, including a 24/7 crisis helpline, trauma therapy, and an Abuser Intervention Program. While not a traditional family counselor, they offer therapeutic services for individuals and families impacted by violence, focusing on healing and support.