A woman who was recently granted immunity for shooting her abusive husband in self-defense has now been fatally shot – by that same man – in what authorities say was a tragic, domestic-related double homicide.
Melissa Cui Domingo, 37, and her mother, Elizabeth Cui Domingo, 74, were both shot and killed Sunday evening in the parking lot of Best Buy off Walton Way Extension in Augusta, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooter has been identified as Hajir Talebzadeh, 37, Melissa’s ex-husband, the man she had shot in 2021 and accused of years of domestic abuse.
The shooting took place during a custody exchange involving the couple’s 5-year-old child, who witnessed the violence but was physically unharmed. Authorities say the child is now in the care of the Department of Family and Children Services.
What Happened: The first 911 calls came in around 6:12 p.m. Sunday reporting gunfire at the busy retail area. Deputies arrived on scene within minutes. Two adult victims – Melissa and her mother Elizabeth – were found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. by Deputy Coroner John Rutland.
Talebzadeh, who also suffered an injury of unknown severity, was transported to Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center and is currently in stable condition. Authorities have secured murder warrants against him, and he will be transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center upon release.
A Tragic End After Years of Abuse: The killings come less than a month after a Richmond County judge dismissed all charges against Melissa Domingo in a 2021 case in which she shot Talebzadeh multiple times in their home. Superior Court Judge Jesse Stone found that Domingo had acted in lawful self-defense after enduring a long pattern of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.
The court accepted expert testimony diagnosing Melissa with Battered Person Syndrome, PTSD, panic disorder, and Stockholm Syndrome. Multiple witnesses—including her brothers—testified to Talebzadeh’s controlling, violent behavior, and said they feared for her life the night she shot him.
Investigators described the home at the time as being filled with unsecured, loaded firearms, and evidence suggested Talebzadeh had a gun in his hand during the final confrontation. Despite his severe injuries, he survived the 2021 incident.
The judge ultimately ruled that Melissa’s use of force was legally justified and protected by Georgia’s self-defense laws, even under the “transferred justification” doctrine, which shields defendants from prosecution if others are unintentionally endangered during lawful self-defense.
Investigation Ongoing, Community Mourns: Richmond County Sheriff’s Office officials say Sunday’s shooting was clearly domestic in nature and not a threat to the general public.
“This was a senseless tragedy that unfolded in front of a child,” said RCSO Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted, especially the child who will now grow up without both parents.”
Sheriff Gino Brantley also issued a public statement: “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.”
The Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit provided aerial support during the response using advanced thermal imaging, and multiple emergency agencies responded rapidly to secure the scene.
As of now, Talebzadeh faces multiple murder charges, and the investigation is ongoing.
