Lorain faith and community leaders gathered Nov. 30 at the Christian Temple in downtown Lorain to address a recent increase in domestic violence cases as well as the fentanyl use that’s crippling addicts.
The Rev. Lelia Jindra, pastor of Christian Temple, 940 W. Fifth St., opened the conference with a prayer.
“Our main purpose for gathering is to find hope for our community,” Jindra said.
She spoke about the community members who are struggling, believing there is no hope for them and they may feel “completely alone” in their battles.
“This is hope; they are not alone,” Jindra said, adding that her hope is the community can offer support through a “steady presence of solidarity and hope.”
The call to action was in part prompted by the fatal shooting of Skylar Young, 24, her daughter Angel Isaac, 9, and son Bandin Young, 4 months old.
Lorain police are investigating the fatalities, however, thus far, the facts and evidence currently lead detectives to believe that the situation was a murder-suicide committed by Tyler Young, 29, the husband of Skylar Young.
Authorities discovered the deceased family Nov. 19 inside a split-level apartment residence at 129 E. Ninth St., the Police Department has said.
The couple had a history of domestic violence situations including an incident this year reported by Skylar Young, but the Lorain County grand jury decided against indicted Tyler Young, police have said.
Police believe that the mental health issues of Tyler Young may have played a part in the tragedy.
“Domestic violence occurs every day,” according to a news release issued by the leaders. “Shootings and drug overdoses are an everyday occurrence.
“Now more than ever, life stresses such as poverty, homelessness, job loss, deaths of loved ones, loneliness, crime and violence are everywhere.”
These factors can lead to drug use, domestic violence, suicide, child abuse and criminal activity, the release said.
“Our women should be protected,” said Imam Paul Hasan, who helped to organize the news conference. “We can’t continue to put our hands on our women.
“We know domestic concerns are going to get worse because of the holidays.”
Hasan not only spoke about the domestic violence, but also violence in general in addition to the significant fentanyl problem facing the community.
Hasan said he has a good friend who recently lost his son to a narcotics overdose.
“We’re not going to be able to pray ourselves out of this,” he said, adding that continued prayers are needed, but action must be taken as well. “We’ve got to get to work.”
Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley also joined the solemn gathering.
“It’s never pleasant to the leader of a community when we have a tragedy like the death of a 4-month-old child, a young girl, 9 years of age, the mother of those two children and the coward, the person who committed the violence against the entire family,” Bradley said. “You know, those type of things can be prevented.”
Bradley said he conferred with Lorain Law Director Patrick Riley and the city no longer will drop charge against a domestic violent offender, even if the victim disagrees.
The law offers an opportunity to prosecute without the victim’s consent, and Bradley said the city intends to follow through with that plan.
Others in attendance for the news conference included: Lorain Ward 2 Councilwoman Victoria Kempton; Michael Doud, executive director of Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board; Mark Adams, commissioner of Lorain County Public Health Department; and Kathy Rednour, psychotherapist from the Family Counseling Center in Westlake.
