Crime
Melissa Cui Domingo and her mother Elizabeth Cui Domingo killed after shooting outside Best Buy in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A woman who was recently granted immunity after shooting her abusive husband in self-defense has now been killed—along with her mother—by that same man in what investigators are calling a domestic-related double homicide.
The victims have been identified as Melissa Cui Domingo, 37, and her mother, Elizabeth Cui Domingo, 74.
Both were fatally shot Sunday evening in the parking lot of Best Buy off Walton Way Extension in Augusta, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO).
The alleged shooter, 37-year-old Hajir Talebzadeh, Melissa’s ex-husband, was the man she shot in 2021 during a violent confrontation and accused of subjecting her to years of domestic abuse.
Authorities say the incident unfolded during a custody exchange involving the couple’s 5-year-old child, who was present during the shooting but was not physically harmed.
The child is now in the custody of the Department of Family and Children Services.
The first 911 calls were received around 6:12 p.m. Sunday, reporting gunfire at the busy retail complex. Deputies arrived within minutes and discovered Melissa and Elizabeth Domingo suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both were pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. by Deputy Coroner John Rutland.
Talebzadeh was also found injured with a wound of unknown severity and was transported to Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, where he is reported to be in stable condition. Investigators have obtained murder warrants, and he will be booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center upon release from the hospital.
The killings occurred less than a month after a Richmond County judge dismissed all charges against Melissa Domingo stemming from the 2021 shooting of Talebzadeh inside their home.
At that time, Superior Court Judge Jesse Stone ruled that Melissa acted in lawful self-defense after enduring years of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. The court accepted expert testimony that Melissa suffered from Battered Person Syndrome, PTSD, panic disorder, and Stockholm Syndrome. Multiple family members testified to Talebzadeh’s violent and controlling behavior, warning that they feared for her life the night she shot him.
Investigators also noted that their residence was filled with unsecured, loaded firearms and that Talebzadeh had been armed during the confrontation. Although he sustained multiple gunshot wounds, he survived the 2021 incident.
Judge Stone ultimately applied Georgia’s “transferred justification” doctrine, ruling Melissa’s use of force was legally protected even if others were unintentionally endangered in the act of defending herself.
Sheriff’s officials have emphasized that Sunday’s shooting was domestic in nature and does not pose a threat to the wider community.
“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 released a statement, 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.”
The Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit provided aerial support during the emergency response, using thermal imaging to help secure the scene. Multiple local and state agencies assisted in the rapid deployment.
Talebzadeh is facing multiple counts of murder, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
Noemi Hernandez, Mother of Four Murdered By Her Husband Hector Luvianos Two Days Before Christmas
BATAVIA, Ill. — A devastating domestic homicide has left a family and community in mourning just days before Christmas.
Noemi Hernandez, a devoted mother of four, was fatally attacked in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 23, in what prosecutors allege was a violent act committed by her husband.
The incident occurred at an apartment building in the 100 block of Church Street in Batavia.
According to court records and police reports, at approximately 4:37 a.m., Batavia police were dispatched after a man contacted emergency dispatchers and stated that he had killed his wife.
Responding officers located the man outside the apartment building and took him into custody without incident.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Hernandez suffering from severe, life-threatening injuries.
First responders immediately attempted life-saving measures; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hector B. Luvianos, 37, who was transported to the Batavia Police Department for questioning.
With assistance from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, investigators determined the incident was domestic-related and involved only the two individuals. Police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
On Dec. 24, 2025, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers announced that Luvianos has been formally charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony under Illinois law.
He appeared in court the same day for a pretrial detention hearing, after which a judge ordered him held in the Kane County Jail while the case proceeds.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and an autopsy is scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of Hernandez’s death.
In the wake of the tragedy, Hernandez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and related expenses.
In the fundraiser, the family described Noemi as “the heart of her family,” noting that she worked tirelessly, loved deeply, and always placed her children first. Her sudden death, they wrote, has left the family emotionally devastated and financially unprepared.
As an immigrant family with limited resources and no life insurance, they now face the burden of funeral and cremation costs, legal fees, and other unexpected expenses, all while supporting four children grieving the loss of their mother.
The family is asking for community support to allow them to lay Noemi to rest with dignity and focus on healing rather than financial hardship.
The investigation remains ongoing.