Chattanooga woman says domestic abuse led to shooting her boyfriend

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – A Chattanooga woman stands accused of attempted homicide for domestic shooting.
    
Police say Nadia Brooks, 37, who is also known as Nadia Hatten shot her boyfriend in the leg.

It happened on Sunday in the 200 block of West 38th Street.

The shooting victim was identified as Kevin Smith, 41, of Chattanooga.

According to the arrest report, Brooks told police she shot Smith because she felt threatened by him. She also said there he had a history of domestic abuse against her by Smith.

WDEF spoke to domestic violence expert Regina McDevitt of the Family Crisis Center. McDevitt said this type of incident is very common when women feel they have no other choice to protect themselves.

"When victims do fight back, they often are arrested. They have higher arrest rates and sentences than men who are violent towards them," McDevitt said.

Smith’s injury is considered non-life threatening.

A surveillance camera at a nearby business recorded the incident.