Noah Project director calls south Abilene shooting 'terrible tragedy'

June 8, 2014

June 08--Calling the fatal shooting of 22-year-old MaKayla Bunting "a terrible tragedy," officials with the Noah Project urged Abilene residents to speak up about domestic violence.

Bunting was shot Thursday in a south Abilene apartment while clutching her newborn son. Her boyfriend has been charged in the slaying. The couple's 2-week-old baby was taken to a Fort Worth hospital with an apparent gunshot wound to his hand.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the family of MaKayla Bunting after this terrible tragedy that occurred in our community of Abilene," said Leigh Ann Fry, executive director of the Noah Project, in a statement Friday. "Anytime family members are injured or killed in a domestic violence tragedy, it should remind us that domestic violence is a serious problem in the state of Texas."

In 2012, 114 women died in domestic violence murders in Texas, and many children were either witnesses or victims to the murders, according to the statement.

In Thursday's shooting, the couple's 4-year-old daughter also was present, police said.

"It is important for family members of victims of domestic violence and community members to speak up, call for help, and confront attitudes that perpetuate violence against women long before domestic violence escalates to murder," Fry said. "For over 30 years, Noah Project has served victims of domestic violence. We are here to help."

Victims of family violence can call the Noah Project at 800-444-3551 or visit www.noahproject.org.

The Noah Project serves Callahan, Eastland, Haskell, Knox, Jones, Shackelford, Stonewall, Stephens, Taylor and Throckmorton counties.