Local

Meck Co. agencies brainstorm ways to fight rise in domestic violence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Agencies across Mecklenburg County gathered Friday to discuss how they can fight the rise in domestic violence.

Last year, 21 of 85 homicides in the Queen City were domestic violence-related.

[RELATED: 4 lives in Charlotte lost already to domestic violence in 2018]

[RELATED: Mecklenburg County deputy killed in domestic-related shooting]

Police said all four homicides so far in 2018 stemmed from domestic violence, including a woman killed inside a home on Carlyle Drive in west Charlotte.

Investigators said the suspect, her boyfriend, later ambushed police at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters before dying in a shootout with officers.

Police told Channel 9 it's important to get the community more involved in preventing and stopping domestic-related killings.

"We continue to talk about this cycle of violence and there are signs and symptoms," said CMPD Chief Kerr Putney. "What I'll say to that is, someone knew something."

Friday’s domestic violence conference aims to educate professionals and others in the community about the issue.