October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
One in three women in Texas will experience some form of domestic abuse in her lifetime, according to Jan Langbein, executive director of Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support. In Dallas, police statistics show there have been more than 6,600 intimate partner crimes, largely “simple” and aggravated assaults, in 2024. Nine have been fatal.
The Dallas Morning News is committed to writing about every person killed in a homicide in the city this year. Through reporting for “Life and Loss in Dallas,” The News has identified six deaths — all women between the ages of 17 and 51 — where family members have confirmed domestic violence.
Langbein told The News, “If we truly want to see a change in domestic violence crimes and homicides, it does take everyone having uncomfortable conversations about how we can all be a part of the change.”
“Abuse does not know age, gender, religion, zip code, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation,” Langbein said. “Equipping yourself with the knowledge of what different forms of abuse can be as well as how you can help a friend, mom, coworker and more can mean more than you may know.”
Here’s a look at the lives lost.
Ikea Hood
Ikea Hood, 17, was fatally shot Jan. 7 in the 700 block of Grambling Drive in southeast Oak Cliff. Police have said Hood was killed by her on-again, off-again boyfriend of about two years.
Hood was a student at Lancaster High School and a member of its Tigerette drill team. Taquoya Lester, Hood’s mother, said her daughter was “full of life” — when she walked into a room, everything seemed to revolve around her. In the last days of her life, Hood’s world revolved around her daughter, Ice’Lynn, who was born three weeks before the shooting. She wanted to become the best mom she could be.
“She did not deserve any of this, what happened to her,” said Kiah Green, a friend of Hood’s. “If you are in a situation that you know you cannot get out of, please, please talk to somebody — because Ikea didn’t get to talk to anybody.”
Dassa Alvarez
Dassa Alvarez, 24, was fatally shot on Feb. 5 in the 11100 block of Walnut Hill Lane in Lake Highlands. Her sister, Alexisa, said Dassa was killed by her ex-boyfriend. The couple had been together for five years before breaking up in January.
Dassa, Alexisa said, was protective, optimistic and loyal. More than anything, Dassa was there. If someone she cared about was hurt or sad, Alexisa said Dassa was the first to intervene.
“She made everything possible,” Alexisa said.
Corinna Johnson
Corinna Johnson, 27, died on April 15 in the 1300 block of West Wheatland Road in Red Bird. Johnson’s body was found “bludgeoned” and wrapped in bedding inside a closet at her boyfriend’s apartment, police records show.
Multiple family members said they saw signs something was wrong — bruises, a black eye and tears — but every time they told Johnson to leave the relationship, Johnson insisted she’d found her soulmate. The love, they said, was “blinding.”
“My sister didn’t deserve what happened to her,” Johnson’s sister, Erica Hernandez, said. “She was a bubbly, caring and outgoing person.”
Johnson loved to sing, dance and dye her hair. She’d recently bought a purple moped.
Jalisa and Amaya Lockett
Jalisa Lockett, 22, and her sister, Amaya, 24, were fatally shot on May 18 in the 2400 block of North Washington Avenue in Old East Dallas. Police have said the alleged gunman was Jalisa’s boyfriend.
“This isn’t something that’s happening far away,” the Rev. David Diggles said of domestic violence at the sisters’ funeral. “This is happening in our community. This is happening in our homes. Amaya and Jalisa’s lives were taken by this evil, and it’s a wake-up call for all of us.”
Jalisa was fiery, independent and a true social butterfly. She loved fashion, singing, filming TikTok videos and making treats like banana bread and molded chocolates. She was also a student at Columbia College, and was pursuing a degree in business management and entrepreneurship.
Amaya was an introvert, avid gamer, artist and a lover of anime and music. She had such a soft spot for animals that she wouldn’t even kill bugs, instead taking the time to catch and release them outside. She was also a student at Tarrant County College, where she was working toward her real estate license.
Isis Adger
Isis Adger, 51, was beaten and strangled to death on June 26 in the 1500 block of North Haskell Avenue in Old East Dallas. Her sister, Makeya said Isis was in a similar kind of toxic, abusive relationship she was trying to escape when she came to Texas with plans of starting over.
Isis was a natural at everything she did, Makeya said. She was a rapper, a union carpenter and a self-taught, skilled seamstress, who even after being accepted into Columbia Law School pursued her dream of becoming a fashion designer.
“My sister was a brilliant mind that could do almost anything,” Makeya said. “Her story did not need to end this way.”
The Dallas-based Genesis Women Shelter’s helpline is answered by call and text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for confidential, free help at 214.946.HELP (4357).
The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers free, confidential support 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233, text “START” to 88788 or visit www.thehotline.org.
