A tragic weekend in Nashville has left the local community grappling with two separate instances of deadly domestic violence. In a statement to WKRN, officials reported the murder-suicide of a high school teacher and a horrifying attack on a mother and her children, marking a somber period for the city.
Anna Pierce, a 30-year-old biology teacher and tennis coach at Hunters Lane High School, was the victim of an apparent murder-suicide carried out by her husband, 46-year-old Steven Pierce, on Sunday. After an argument concerning divorce and financial issues, Steven fatally shot Anna and then himself at their West Nashville condo. A revolver was found under Steven's body, according to police information provided by WSMV. In her seventh year at Hunters Lane, Pierce was remembered for her dedication to students, with Executive Principal Sue Kessler remarking on her commitment to helping students through graduation and beyond, The Tennessean reports.
Amidst the loss of Pierce, Nashville officials also responded to an attempted murder-suicide in Madison last Saturday. A 41-year-old Illinois woman was shot multiple times by her boyfriend, Jovien Smith, 26, after trying to crash the minivan she was driving. Smith opened fire on the woman's children, resulting in the death of a 4-year-old and critical injuries to a 1-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl. Smith now faces charges including criminal homicide and is held on a $2.6 million bond, as reported by WKRN.
The YWCA's senior vice president of domestic violence services, Dr. Daffany Baker, discussed the underlying issues of power and control in such incidents. “My heart is crushed every time I hear about such an incident, but for it to be…a teacher — someone that protects our children, educates our children — it just makes it even more so, just hurtful,” Baker told WKRN.
Victims' advocates stress the broad repercussions of domestic violence, with Dr. Baker stating in the aftermath of the tragedies that current clients already in safe situations are being "triggered" due to their proximity to similar dangers.
