The 40 people killed in domestic violence situations last year in Minnesota were the most in more than 30 years of record-keeping, Violence Free Minnesota said Tuesday. Of the victims, 29 were killed by current or former intimate partner and 11 were intervenors or bystanders to domestic violence. “Even one death is too many and it is all preventable,” said Guadalupe Lopez, Violence Free Minnesota’s executive director, on Tuesday. She highlighted that 80 adult and minor children lost parents last year as a result of domestic-related homicides. “What does that do to a community? What does that do for families? What does that do for Minnesota?,” Lopez asked. The previous high was 37 domestic-related homicides in 2013. Minnesota averaged 26 victims of intimate partner violence annually in the decade between 2013 and 2022, Violence Free Minnesota data shows. The nonprofit has been tracking domestic violence-related homicides since 1989 and released its latest report on Tuesday. At least 12 people have been killed so far this year due to intimate partner violence in the state, according to Violence Free Minnesota. Violence Free Minnesota released a report on Oct. 1, 2024, about 40 people who were victims of intimate partner homicide or bystanders/intervenors in 2023. The organization created a collage of victims’ photos. (Courtesy of Violence Free Minnesota) Studying risk factors Violence Free Minnesota studies “five key risk factors for homicide that have been identified as reasonably reliable in national data, especially in combination,” according to the report’s summary. Those factors are the victim’s attempts to leave the abuser, previous threats to kill the victim, abuser’s access to firearms, abuser’s history of violence, and choking or strangling the victim. The report says that “while homicide risk factors are often considered in a criminal legal context, we believe that by placing them in a public health framework these factors can illuminate important patterns” and “can and should be identified and addressed through multiple victim/survivor ‘touchpoints’ with systems and services.” Of the 29 people killed by a current or former partner last year, the report shows: 55 percent were separated or attempting leave. At least 24 percent had been threatened with death. 55 percent were killed with a firearm. Nearly 45 percent were killed by someone with a documented history of violence against them or a previous partner. At least 31 percent were killed by strangulation, or by someone who previously choked them or other partners. Six people killed last year were at least 50 years old. In instances of older homicide victims, the same underlying factors of domestic violence homicides of power and control are at work, but it may be downplayed as “caregiver stress,” said Renee Stromme, Minnesota Elder Justice Center communications and training manager. In the next legislative session, Violence Free Minnesota will be advocating for funding for crime victim services — for the network of community-based advocacy and shelters. “We want to get people accessing help months and years before anything escalates to a homicide level, … far before their life is threatened,” said Jess Palyan, the organization’s policy program manager. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Violence Free Minnesota is a statewide coalition of nearly 90 programs working to address relationship abuse, and they will be hosting awareness events throughout the month. Violence Free Minnesota memorialized 39 victims from last year in February, but they were since notified about another death, so the new report reflects 40 victims. Domestic violence help Help is available 24/7 through the Day One hotline by calling 866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995. Related Articles Crime & Public Safety | How St. Paul police found the killer of Lowertown artist and grandmother Crime & Public Safety | Man sentenced to 7 years after standoff, police shooting in Woodbury Target parking lot Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul police: Man jumps into vehicle, steals it as driver performs sobriety tests Crime & Public Safety | Community gathers to grieve and comfort one another after Lowertown artist’s killing Crime & Public Safety | Suspicious package sent to Minn. elections office this week contained nonhazardous material