The understanding of intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicide were explored using four different theoretical approaches. Consistent with previous research, the results of this study suggest that suspected offenders involved in the killing of an intimate partner are more likely to be male.

The results also indicate that IPH is for the most part a male-to-female and female-to-male event. The primary weapons of choice used to perpetrate the intimate partner homicide by both genders were handguns, but women were more likely than men to use knives or other kind of stabbing instrument. Based on population percentages, it was determined that those identified as boyfriend/girlfriend were at the highest risk for IPH. Secondly, African-Americans were found to be overrepresented as both suspected offenders and victims of IPH.  This is a PDF file.