ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — Erica Riley was shot and killed alongside her mother before making it to court Monday morning.
Elizabethtown police say the shooting suspect was Riley's boyfriend. She was heading to the Hardin County Justice Center for an Emergency Protective Order against the man.
Christopher Elder died after shooting himself during a standoff with police in western Kentucky. The court found him guilty of domestic violence assault in 2006.
"The bottom line is, survivors should be safe when they go to court," Angela Conway said. They're a spokesperson for ZeroV, a coalition of domestic abuse victim advocates.
"Survivors can get threatened on the way to court, during court with threatening looks and after court in the halls and in the parking lots," Conway explained.
The group is suggesting some security changes, such as staggering arrival times for protective order hearings, bailiff escorts for survivors and holding the accused until their accuser has left court.
ZeroV shared a University of Kentucky study from 2009 showing emergency protective orders prevent domestic violence entirely half the time, while significantly reducing it for the remaining 50%.
SpringHaven, Inc., is an advocate group that works with ZeroV out of Hardin County. Shonna Sheckles has 23 years of experience in the field and was working for SpringHaven the day of the shooting.
"This is the first time in my career as an advocate that I've ever experienced anything like that. It basically made me sick to my stomach," she said.
Despite the shock, SpringHaven continues working with a promise.
"That we won't stop fighting for a better future until we have one," SpringHaven CEO Georgia Hensley said.
The local advocacy group is holding a vigil for Riley outside the justice center on Wednesday, August 21, at 6:00 p.m.
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