Deputies arrested 43-year-old Jose Romero on a murder charge after the shooting Saturday at a home on Texarkana Street. Investigators say Romero admitted to shooting his wife, Yanira Nafin, claiming she did not take his back pain seriously.
RELATED: Man accused in shooting death of common-law wife inside east Harris Co. home, sheriff says
The killing marks another domestic violence case in a region that sees tens of thousands of related calls each year.
According to Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), Harris County has received between 45,000 and 50,000 domestic violence calls annually over the past three years. Advocates say reducing that number remains a major challenge.
Recent data compiled by AVDA highlights troubling trends:
- 52% of victims sought help before they were killed
- 75% of domestic violence homicides occur when a victim is attempting to leave
- 59% of victims who sought shelter were turned away due to lack of space
Advocates said those numbers reflect gaps in resources and support systems for people trying to escape abusive situations.
Monique Oliverez knows those challenges firsthand. She lost her mother, Monica Oliverez, in March in what authorities said was another domestic violence killing. Her mother's boyfriend, Eric Goosby, has been charged with murder.
"We tried getting her help, but she decided she was grown, so she let it go," Oliverez said. "That's not how it should've been."
Community advocates said prevention efforts must start earlier, including educating children about healthy relationships.
"We need it in the school system. We need to know what self-love is first," Elissa Boudreaux of Lotus Worldwide Consulting said. "If they can figure out what self-love is, that's your prevention right there."
Others emphasize the importance of community involvement when someone may be in danger.
"Don't ask why they stayed," Boudreaux said. "Just ask what you can do to help them."
AVDA is expected to present its latest report on domestic violence trends and support services to the Houston City Council's Public Safety Committee on Monday, May 3.
If you need help getting out of a domestic violence situation, call the Houston Area Women's Center 24/7 hotline at 713-528-2121 or call AVDA at 713-224-9911. You can also click here to chat with an advocate online. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and need help, call 713-528-3625.