Domestic violence is more common than many would think. It affects people who live near you, go to church with you and work with you.

It also affects entire communities. Sadly, Brookhaven recently saw the worst-case scenario when domestic violence is taken to a violent extreme.

A 32-year-old mother was allegedly killed by her live-in boyfriend early Monday. Police said there had been no previous domestic violence incidents reported, but they had learned that the couple had issues in the past.

The crime reports are often littered with calls for domestic violence or disturbances. Too often, however, domestic violence incidents aren’t reported to police.

Victims may fear retribution from an attacker or fear losing the person who supports them financially.

According to national statistics, nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States have suffered severe physical violence by an intimate partner.

“Victims are deprived of their autonomy, liberty and security, and face tremendous threats to their health and safety,” a presidential proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness month reads. “While physical marks may often be the most obvious signs of the harm caused by domestic violence, the true extent of the pain goes much deeper. Victims not only face abuse, but often find themselves left with significant financial insecurity. And children who witness domestic violence often experience lifelong trauma. These heinous acts go against all we know to be humane and decent, and they insult our most fundamental ideals. We all have a responsibility to try to end this grave problem.”

There are several resources online for victims as well as friends and family members of victims. Most of those resources offer tips, but the most important one is also the most obvious: Offer to help the victim find a domestic violence shelter or agency and offer to go with him/her to the agency or to the police. Domestic violence is a crime that shouldn’t be tolerated.