Updated 02/24/2011 03:09 PM
Domestic Violence Vigil Held At Site Of Woman's Fatal Shooting
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Demonstrators held a candlelight vigil for victims of domestic violence in Astoria, Queens today, in front of the pharmacy where a woman was allegedly shot to death by her ex-boyfriend earlier this month.
The attendees, who represented a variety of non-profit organizations, started their demonstration in front of Crescent Chemists at 24-12 34th Avenue, where Giummia Villa, 32, was shot to death by Alex Figueroa, the father of her two sons.
Villa had previously gotten an order of protection against Figueroa from Family Court.
They also remembered the recent case of Yelena and Anna Bulchenko, a young woman and her mother who were stabbed to death in Brooklyn earlier this month by Maksim Gelman, who authorities say stalked Yelena.
"We wanted to demand prevention and protection for women that are being victims of domestic violence," said a rallier. "We're looking for programs that prevent these kind of accidents from happening, and the one here, how Villa got killed after she had an order of protection, and it seems like these people didn't work."
Rally organizers said every 12 seconds, a woman in the United States is abused or killed.