AUGUSTA, Ga. — A heartbreaking domestic violence case took an even darker turn Sunday evening when Melissa Cui Domingo, 37, and her mother, Elizabeth Cui Domingo, 74, were shot and killed in a Best Buy parking lot on Walton Way Extension. Authorities say the shooter was none other than Melissa’s ex-husband — the same man she had once survived after shooting him in self-defense.
The Shooting
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident happened just after 6 p.m. during what was supposed to be a custody exchange involving the couple’s 5-year-old child. The child, who witnessed the shooting but was physically unharmed, is now in the care of the Department of Family and Children Services.
Deputies arrived within minutes of the first 911 calls, but both women were already gravely wounded. They were pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. by Deputy Coroner John Rutland.
The suspect, 37-year-old Hajir Talebzadeh, Melissa’s ex-husband, sustained an injury of unknown severity and was taken to Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition. Murder warrants have been issued against him, and authorities say he will be transferred to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center upon release.
A History of Abuse
The killing comes less than a month after Melissa was granted legal immunity in a 2021 shooting in which she opened fire on Talebzadeh inside their home. In that case, she testified to years of domestic abuse — physical, sexual, and psychological.
Expert witnesses diagnosed Melissa with Battered Person Syndrome, PTSD, panic disorder, and Stockholm Syndrome. Judge Jesse Stone ultimately ruled that she had acted in lawful self-defense, clearing her of all charges. Evidence from the 2021 incident, including multiple unsecured firearms and testimony from family members, painted a chilling picture of abuse and fear.
Despite severe injuries in 2021, Talebzadeh survived. The judge’s ruling was widely seen as a victory for survivors of domestic violence, acknowledging the complexity of their circumstances under Georgia law.
A Child Left Behind
“This was a senseless tragedy that unfolded in front of a child,” said Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted, especially the child who will now grow up without both parents.”
Sheriff Gino Brantley echoed those sentiments, saying:
“No child should ever have to experience such trauma. As a community, we must come together to support him and others who are affected. Violence is never the answer—it only leaves behind grief, pain, and broken families.”
Community in Mourning
News of the double homicide has sent shockwaves through Augusta. Friends and community advocates who once rallied around Melissa during her 2021 trial are now mourning both her and her mother.
Elizabeth Cui Domingo, remembered as a devoted mother and grandmother, is being honored online by loved ones who describe her as “a woman of quiet strength and boundless love.” Melissa, meanwhile, is being remembered not only as a mother fighting for her child’s safety but also as a symbol of resilience against domestic abuse — until her life was cut short.
Ongoing Investigation
The Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit and multiple emergency response agencies assisted during the response Sunday evening. Authorities emphasize that this was an isolated, domestic-related case and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
As the community mourns, the investigation continues. Talebzadeh faces multiple murder charges and will remain under guard until he can be booked into jail.
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