Overview
- Colorado recorded 72 domestic violence fatalities in 2024, up from 58 in 2023, as statewide homicides fell to a five-year low and roughly one in six homicide victims died in domestic incidents.
- Eight children ages 3 months to 7 were killed, the most since tracking began, with five deaths occurring during custody disputes.
- Firearms were involved in 75% of the 72 fatalities, including every child death, consistent with a four-year pattern in which four out of five domestic violence deaths involved a gun.
- Many perpetrators were already known to the system, with at least half having a prior domestic-violence arrest or warrant, one in five a prior DV conviction, and more than 30% previously on probation or pretrial supervision.
- The Review Board recommends requiring police to temporarily remove guns at domestic-violence arrests, clarifying firearm prohibitions after third-degree assault DV convictions, providing resource materials when no arrest is made, and expanding fatality review interviews.