FORT PIERCE, Fla.– A woman was fatally shot in Fort Pierce Saturday morning by her longtime boyfriend, and police are continuing to gather evidence, according to our partners at WPTV.

The boyfriend, Robert Castro, 26, was apprehended hours after the crime was committed.

Castro remains in jail and is facing a first-degree murder charge, but this case has put a spotlight on domestic violence in Florida.

Recent studies conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have shown that are increasing.

Indian River County is reporting a 10% increase in domestic violence and Martin and St. Lucie counties report a 12% increase.

Dr. Teresa Albizu, the CEO of SafeSpace, an organization that specializes in helping victims of domestic violence, said “The problem with domestic violence is that it goes highly underreported,”

Albizu and Safespace have recently found that they are receiving an average of 250 calls to their crisis hotline a month.

People who feel as though they are in an abusive relationship are urged to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233).