A Filipino American woman and her elderly mother were shot and killed in what police described as a domestic-related double homicide during a custody exchange in a store parking lot on September 7.
Authorities identified the victims as Melissa Cui Domingo, 41, and her mother Elizabeth Cui Domingo, 74, who were gunned down outside an Augusta Best Buy. Melissa’s former husband, Hajir Talebzadeh, 41, has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree.
Tragically, Melissa’s five-year-old son Michael witnessed the killings but was not physically harmed. He is now under the care of Georgia’s Department of Family and Children Services.
A statement from a GoFundMe page created for the family described the devastating loss: “Tragically, the Domingo family has endured an unimaginable loss… The incident occurred during a custody exchange involving Melissa’s 5-year-old son, Michael, who witnessed the tragedy but was physically unharmed.”
The page paid tribute to the victims, calling Melissa “a devoted mother, daughter and sister,” while remembering Elizabeth as “a constant and comforting presence in all of our lives.” Funds raised will cover the transport of their remains to Maryland, funeral costs, and immediate support for Michael.
Court records show Melissa and Talebzadeh divorced in November 2024. Just days before the tragedy, she had been cleared of charges for shooting him in what the court ruled was self-defense, citing her PTSD and battered person disorder from years of abuse.
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley issued a statement condemning the violence: “Our hearts go out to the child who was present during this senseless tragedy. No child should ever have to experience such trauma. As a community, we must come together to support him and others who are affected.”
Talebzadeh, who was also injured during the incident, was treated at a hospital before being booked into Richmond County Jail. He now faces trial for the killings that have shocked both the local community and the wider Filipino American diaspora.
