Two high-profile domestic violence cases, one in Louisiana and another in Virginia, have reignited calls for better prevention resources and mental health support for Black communities. The incidents, both involving Black mothers, highlight disparities in access to care that experts say make Black women more vulnerable to intimate partner violence.
On Sunday, Shamar Elkins fatally shot seven of his children and another child in Shreveport, Louisiana, before being killed by police. A relative said Elkins was separating from his wife, who was wounded. Last Thursday, former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot his estranged wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, and then himself in their home; their two children were unharmed. Fairfax was also in the process of separating and faced a court deadline to move out.
Advocates note that Black women experience domestic violence at higher rates. According to a 2014 CDC study, more than four in 10 Black women face physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetimes, a rate higher than for white, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander women. A 2025 Violence Policy Center study found Black women are twice as likely to be murdered by men, with over 90% knowing their killers and most killings involving guns.
Paméla Tate, executive director of Black Women Revolt, said historical mistrust of police and child services due to institutionalised racism makes Black women reluctant to seek help. She stressed that domestic violence is about power and control, not race, but systemic barriers exacerbate the problem.
Mental health issues may have played a role in both cases. Elkins had voluntarily checked into a VA hospital for mental health treatment in January. Fairfax's mental and emotional health suffered after sexual assault allegations in 2019, leading to heavy drinking and withdrawal from family, according to court documents.
Shreveport Councilman Grayson Boucher called the killings emblematic of a 'true epidemic of domestic violence' in the city. Advocates urge more targeted resources and community-based solutions to address the root causes of violence against Black women.
