Ribbon cutting held for New Hanover County Community Justice Center

The event also included a discussion with the family of Gabby Petito, a victim of domestic violence that was murdered in 2021.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — District Attorney Ben David cut the ribbon on the New Hanover County Community Justice Center on Wednesday.  

The center is inspired by the family justice center concept, where law enforcement, legal experts, and non-profits are housed under one roof to provide services for domestic violence victims. This community center takes it a step further by trying to tackle youth and gang-related violence.   

DA Ben David will serve as the center’s chief legal counsel and CEO after he steps down as district attorney on September 3. 

“After responding to crime for so long, the thought of being able to actively prevent it has always been a driving force as district attorney, and to have resources behind that fight now is just a really exciting thing to be a part of,” David said. 

At the ribbon cutting, the audience also heard from the family of Gabby Petito, a young woman who was murdered by her fiancé in 2021. Petito also lived in Wilmington for a short time.  

Her family now advocates for domestic violence victims. 

“Gabby gave us this huge light and this huge platform, and we’re just trying to use it so that people get the resources that they need,” Gabby’s stepmom Tara Petito explained. 

The Gabby Petito Foundation was also instrumental in establishing Gabby’s Law in Florida that requires law enforcement to ask a series of questions to identify domestic violence victims. Gabby’s mom Nicole Schmidt said that advocacy is exactly why they chose to visit Wilmington.  

“The collaboration here is unbelievable,” Schmidt noted. “We love to see all different agencies coming together to work for victims, and Gabby’s Law is just a piece of the puzzle we think will be helpful in preventing homicides in the future.”  

The new justice center is funded by a grant from the New Hanover County Community Endowment. Executive Vice President for Programs and Operations Lakesha McDay said the goal of the center aligns perfectly with the mission of the endowment.  

“We hope that this CJC will be around for a very very long time because we understand the importance of having resources rooted in a community to allow people to bounce back and to experience life after a traumatic event,” McDay said. 

Gabby’s family also offered to donate one of her artworks to the center, but David hopes to hold a fundraiser to buy artwork and raise money for the family’s foundation. 

The center will officially open its doors about a month from now.