Minneapolis womans killing exposes gaps in how police investigate domestic violence

Mariah Samuels was shot ten times and killed outside her home three weeks after reporting her boyfriend, David Wright, for domestic violence. Despite a police risk assessment indicating Wright posed a serious threat, he was not apprehended before her murder. The Minneapolis police department is grappling with a backlog of domestic violence cases, with only five investigators tackling an increasing number of incidents. Chief Brian O’Hara has ordered a thorough review of the handling of Samuels' case and plans to retrain all officers on domestic violence protocols by 2025. Domestic violence calls represent the fifth most common emergency response in Minneapolis, constituting about one-third of aggravated assaults since 2019.

A recent report emphasized systemic failures in police responses, allowing abusers to escape accountability. The domestic assault unit had a backlog of approximately 49 cases where suspects fled the scene before police arrived. These findings raise urgent questions about public safety and the efficacy of current police practices.