Court documents show a Bridgeport mom, who was killed Monday night, previously had a protective order against her alleged killer. Police said Krystal Alston, 27, was shot to death in the East End by Ricardo Robinson.

Alston was a UConn grad and had a baby daughter with Robinson.

In June of last year, Alston filed an application for relief from abuse against Robinson, writing "Ricardo and I have had a toxic abusive relationship for a few years. He has hit me multiple times even breaking my nose in 2021. He constantly threatens me if I try to leave him or go no contact."

Alston also wrote that she called police a few times, "due to being scared after begging him to leave me alone, and he wouldn't."

Court records show a judge granted a temporary no-contact order, but at a hearing the next month, Alston requested the matter be dismissed.

Just after 8 p.m. Monday, police responded to shots fired on Seaview Avenue near Central Avenue and found Alston dead in the street, making her yet another apparent victim of intimate partner violence.

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence said the deadliness of cases has been on the rise since the pandemic.

"The situations are becoming much more escalated much more quickly. The level of violence has increased," stated Meghan Scanlon, president and CEO of CCADV.

Scanlon said the advocacy group doesn't have official numbers for 2024, but last year, there were 19 domestic violence homicides.

"Eighteen were women. One was a man. We historically have averaged about 14, so, you know, significantly up," Scanlon said.

In Alston's case, police zeroed in on Robinson quickly, putting out a public alert and describing him as armed and dangerous. They found him Tuesday morning at a cemetery in Stratford dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Scanlon told News 12 education and prevention are the key to stopping tragedies like this one. She wants people to know there is help out there.

"We have a network of over 400 advocates across the state that are trained to specifically help individuals who are experiencing family or intimate partner violence, and there's resources. They're all free, safe and confidential," Scanlon said. "We have a statewide, 24-7 domestic vioelnce resource hotline. If you are unsure of if you are in an unhealthy situation, you can simply call and ask to speak to an advocate about that. You don't necessarily have to be in crisis."

To connect with a domestic violence advocate 24/7, visit CTSafeConnect.org or call or text 888-774-2900.