Colorado domestic violence victim fatalities rise 24% in 2024, even as statewide homicides fall

Oct. 21, 2025 (DENVER) – Colorado saw its lowest homicide rate in five years in 2024, yet domestic violence victim fatalities increased, according to a comprehensive report from the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board (PDF), released today by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

The report identified 54 domestic violence fatality cases resulting in 72 deaths in 2024, a 24% increase from the prior year. Of those deaths, 38 were killed by current or former intimate partners, and eight were collateral victims, all of whom were children between three months and seven years old. Five of the children were killed amid custody disputes between their parents, highlighting custody litigation as a high-risk period for families experiencing domestic violence.

“Every one of the eight collateral victims last year was a child. Domestic violence is not only a crisis between partners—it’s tearing families apart and claiming young lives,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser, who chairs the review board. “We must do more to protect children and survivors before tragedy strikes. That means stronger firearm safeguards, greater coordination across courts and law enforcement, and earlier intervention when warning signs appear.”

While total homicides statewide declined by 16.7%, domestic violence deaths made up 18% of all homicides, the highest share in five years. This means that even as overall violence decreases, domestic violence continues to claim a growing share of lives in Colorado.

Firearms were used in 75% of all domestic violence deaths in 2024, including every child fatality. Half of the perpetrators had a prior domestic violence arrest or warrant, and one in five had a prior conviction. Rural counties also continued to experience disproportionately high rates of domestic violence fatalities per capita, underscoring the ongoing challenges survivors face in accessing safety and support.

The report also includes the first-ever four-year statewide analysis (2021–2024) of domestic violence fatality trends in Colorado. By reviewing multiple years of data, the board identified persistent risk factors and ongoing gaps in the system that continue to endanger victims and families. The findings reaffirm that domestic violence remains deeply gendered, with nearly nine in ten victims being women and nearly nine in ten perpetrators being men. The analysis also found that firearms were involved in four out of five domestic violence deaths, and children accounted for more than half of all collateral fatalities, a growing and alarming trend.

The board’s 2025 recommendations call for stronger prevention and intervention measures, including:

  • Requiring law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms at the scene of domestic violence arrests.
  • Clarifying state law to ensure third-degree assault domestic violence convictions prohibit firearm possession.
  • Encouraging law enforcement to consider a protocol to provide resource materials to both parties at domestic violence calls where no arrest is made.
  • Expanding local fatality review team protocols to include interviews with family members and perpetrators to better identify missed warning signs.

Since its creation in 2016, the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board has worked to identify trends, strengthen data collection, and advance policies to prevent domestic violence deaths. The board partners with the Rose Andom Center and local fatality review teams statewide to ensure that every tragedy informs action toward safer communities.

The full 2025 Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Report (PDF) is available on the Colorado Attorney General’s website.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you are in a crisis or need immediate support, dial 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (7233). For a comprehensive list of resources available throughout Colorado, please visit www.violencefreecolorado.org (opens new window).

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Media Contact:
Lawrence Pacheco
Chief Communications Officer
(720) 508-6553 office
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov