Is there a way to protect victims of domestic violence in Charlotte? Headlines scream of shootings, beatings and killings of people in intimate relationships seemingly every week.

The latest case happened over the weekend in Davidson.

Just after 2 a.m. Saturday, Davidson police responded to a report of a shooting at a home on Callaway Hills Lane. When officers arrived, they found a man and woman in the front yard, both with gunshot wounds.

Witnesses told police that Jeremy Allen Hester, 31, drove to the home of his ex-wife, Erin Marie Cobb, 28, and they began arguing inside. Moments after the pair walked outside, multiple gunshots were fired, witnesses told police.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, who are investigating the shooting, said that evidence gathered at the scene suggests Hester shot his ex-wife in the neck and then shot himself in the head. Police called the incident a "domestic violence-related shooting."

Hester is a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer, sort of underscoring the fact that domestic violence can affect anyone, despite the person's profession.

Hester and Cobb were still in the hospital as of Monday.

This year, in the Charlotte area, there have been five domestic violence related homicides.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Mecklenburg County Women's Commission has planned several events in the city:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

10/06: DV Candlelight Vigil
6:30 PM
Beatties Ford Road Regional Library
2412 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, NC 28216
Contact Glencie with the DVAC’s Interfaith
Subcommittee for more details at glencie01@aol.com.

10/06: DV at the Workplace: 2011 Charlotte Summit
6:30 PM
Film Screening of "Telling Amy's Story"
Tate Hall on CPCC Main Campus
1206 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204
Contact Carol Roth at croth@ufsclt.org or 704-367-2799

10/07: DV at the Workplace: 2011 Charlotte Summit
8:30 AM
Educational Workshop
The Employers Association, Charlotte
Keynote Speaker: Johnny Lee, Director of Peace @ Work
Contact Carol Roth at croth@ufsclt.org or 704-367-2799

10/17: 13th Annual ASIS Golf Tournament
8:30 AM
Registration / Range
10:00 AM
Shotgun Start
Tega Cay Golf Club
$95 Per player (includes cart & green fees, lunch & dinner
buffet, awards) Sponsorships are available.
Proceeds benefiting Mecklenburg County Community
Support Services Women's Commission
Please call or email Thomas Vidak at 704-301-6084 or
Thomas.Vidak@SecuritasINC.com

10/17-21: Activist in Residence: Jennifer Baumgardner
UNC Charlotte Women & Gender Studies
9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
Contact Coral Wayland at cwayland@uncc.edu or 704-687-2290

10/29: A Change Is Gonna Come
6:00 PM
Reeder Memorial Baptist Church
3725 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, NC 28216
TICKETS: $20 at www.forgiven2.com or 800-903-6171