The Hispanic community is shocked following the murder of Melissa Cui Domingo, 37, and her mother, Elizabeth Cui Domingo, 74, victims of a double homicide related to domestic violence. The crime occurred on Sunday, September 7 in the parking lot of a shopping center in Augusta, Georgia during a custody exchange.
The event is all the more painful because it was witnessed by Melissa’s son, a 5-year-old boy identified as Michael, who was physically unharmed, but was left in the custody of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.
A case marked by years of abuse
The attacker was identified as Hajir Talebzadeh, 37, Melissa’s ex-husband and father of the child.
Talebzadeh was arrested and faces murder charges after being hospitalized for injuries sustained during the incident.
Melissa and her abuser’s history was marked by years of violence.
In 2021, she had shot Talebzadeh inside his house, accusing him of physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
After a lengthy trial, a Richmond County judge acquitted her of all charges in August 2025, finding that she acted in self-defense.
The court recognized battered person syndrome, as well as other trauma diagnoses, which explained her situation.
Despite that legal victory, just weeks later, Melissa and her mother were murdered by the same man she had tried to defend herself against years earlier.
Melissa and Elizabeth Cui Domingo died together
Local authorities described the attack as a “senseless” tragedy that posed no threat to the general public, but a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence.
“No child should have to live through something like this,” Sheriff Gino Brantley declared.
“As a community we must come together to support this little boy and reject any form of violence.”
Sheriff’s Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard added:
Fue un crimen atroz frente a un menor de edad. Nuestros corazones están con él y con la familia Domingo en este momento tan doloroso
Lewis Blanchard
A broken family asking for help
The Domingo family has started a fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform to cover funeral expenses, the transfer of the bodies to Maryland, and immediate care for little Michael.
The campaign, organized by Anthony Domingo, also seeks to ensure stability for the child in the midst of the tragedy.
On the support page, loved ones described Melissa as a devoted mother and Elizabeth as a loving grandmother and pillar of the family. “Their memory will always live on in those of us who knew and loved them,” they said.
This case reflects the persistent crisis of domestic violence in the United States, which disproportionately affects Hispanic and immigrant women.
According to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in three Latinas in the U.S. has experienced intimate partner violence at some point in her life.
Law enforcement and community organizations encourage anyone at risk to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish.
