Woman not charged in shooting death

Keith Paul

Friday, Dec. 28, 2001 | 9:59 a.m.

A woman was not charged Thursday after shooting a man to death in her home during an incident that Metro Police say may have been motivated by domestic violence toward her.

"We are going to look at all the evidence and consult with (prosecutors) to determine if any charges will be filed," said Lt. Tom Monahan, head of Metro's homicide unit.

Police were called to a house in the 7000 block of Greenoak Circle, near Antelope Way and Alta Drive, about 12:45 p.m. Thursday and found 38-year-old James Hinton Stevens shot to death.

The woman, who lived at the house, apparently shot Stevens, police said. Monahan said there were indications the shooting was related to domestic violence, but detectives were still trying to determine if the woman has called police in the past reporting domestic abuse.

Police would not release the woman's name.

Stevens' death is the 32nd domestic-related homicide this year and 136th overall. Monahan said the percentage of domestic violence homicides is about the same as past years.

The shooting comes on the heels of a murder-suicide on Christmas Day. Jose Bernal, 39, apparently shot and killed his ex-girlfriend Mirna Duenas, 18, in a home on Fairfield Avenue, near Sahara Avenue and Industrial Road. He then killed himself, police said.

In October, prosecutors didn't press charges against a 32-year-old woman who killed her common-law husband in their trailer home on Lamb Boulevard. Prosecutors said the woman was tied up and tortured over a weekend before getting to a gun and killing the man.

Lisa Lynn Chapman of Safe Nest said the number of calls coming into the domestic violence hotline has increased over the past several years and the trend continued this year.

"Our experience tells us it's not an increase in domestic violence, but an increase in awareness and those seeking help," she said. "Domestic violence has always been there."

Chapman said domestic violence against women comes in small steps over time.

"Look at it this way. Would you go out with someone who hit you on the first date?" she said. "When you first meet him, he is wonderful and sweet and charming. He tells you he'll take care of you and you will never have to work again."