Double murder: Court finds victim endured years of abuse, control

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Court documents paint a picture of alleged domestic abuse and control in the years leading up to the shooting deaths of a woman and her mother in the Best Buy parking lot.

Deputies say the woman’s ex-husband will face charges in the double murder, which happened Sunday night, just days after the woman was cleared of charges for shooting the suspect in what a court found was self-defense.

Double murder outside Augusta Best Buy: What we know

Family members and local residents are searching for answers after an apparent domestic dispute ended with the murder of a 37-year-old and her mother in an Augusta parking lot.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says 41-year-old Melissa Cui Domingo and 79-year-old Elizabeth Cui Domingo, both of Evans, died from gunshot wounds on Sunday evening.

The suspect, 41-year-old Hajir Talebzadeh, suffered an injury and was taken to Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, where he is listed as stable.

Just a little under three weeks earlier, Melissa Cui Domingo had been granted immunity from prosecution for shooting Talebzadeh in the head on Dec. 31, 2021.

The 911 call is difficult to hear, but it could shed light on this couple’s history – and just how dangerous domestic violence situations can be.

We decided to share some of the call. You repeatedly hear Talebzadeh try to get Melissa to come closer to him.

She says she’s afraid, but just before help arrives, he makes one last plea.

2021 911 CALL:

Court documents show she was cleared of charges after an expert diagnosed her as suffering from a range of problems after years of abuse.

The court had heard from Dr. Marti Loring, who’d diagnosed Domingo with post-traumatic stress syndrome, Stockholm syndrome, battered person syndrome and panic disorder.

THE COURT DECISION:

The burden of proof fell on her to show why she should be immune from prosecution, and she met that burden, a judge found.

Two witnesses testified that they’d seen and heard Talebzadeh being controlling of Domingo.

One witness said he’d seen bruises on her and was concerned at one point that Talebzadeh would kill Domingo, their child and himself.

That witness said he’d been to the couple’s home and seen “countless loaded weapons throughout the home which were not secured,” a court document states.

Two officers also reported seeing weapons and weapon components in the home when they were called there.

The court noted that Domingo’s testimony detailed specific incidents of physical and sexual violence that supported what the court found was “a reasonable fear of her husband.”

On the other hand, the court didn’t find Talebzadeh’s testimony credible, stating he downplayed text messages and emails between himself and Domingo, which the court found “disturbing.”

Those text messages and emails reveal “controlling and manipulating behavior” by Talebzadeh ”that contradicts his mild-mannered courtroom demeanor," the court found.

“The Court finds that the evidence established a pattern of psychological abuse, control, and threats by Hajir Talebzadeh toward Melissa Domingo,” the court wrote. “The Court finds credible testimony regarding animal abuse, which speaks to the character and potential for violence of the Hajir Talebzadeh.”

The court found she proved she reasonably believed “use of force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to herself,” the court wrote.

She had been charged with two counts of aggravated assault family violence, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree.

Nineteen days after a court issued that ruling, she and her mother were dead.

They were pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. Sunday by the Richmond County Coroner’s Office.

According to previous reports, Talebzadeh and Melissa were married, but got divorced in November 2024, court records show.

Once released from the hospital, Talebzadeh will be transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. The sheriff’s office says warrants are being obtained on Talebzadeh for murder.

If you or someone you know is in danger, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.