AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- A mother and grandmother of a 5-year-old child were killed over the weekend while a 5-year-old child was present.
While the child was left unharmed, the emotional damage is far worse.
“There was a lot of speculation on Facebook, and a lot of finger pointing. I just ask that for once as a community that we would come together, and put all of the bickering and some of the racially motivated hate aside,” said Sheriff Eugene Brantley, with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting happened around 6 o’clock Sunday night at the Best Buy near Augusta Exchange.
Investigators say after a domestic dispute, Melissa Domingo and her 74-year-old mom, Elizabeth, were shot and killed by Melissa’s husband, Hajir Talebzedah.
The Sheriff says the investigation points to the need for action.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior that sometimes lingers. A lot of times, the victims don’t feel as if they can get out of the relationship for various reasons,” Brantley said.
But records show this isn’t the first time.
Back on New Year’s Eve in 2021, Domingo shot her husband in the head during another domestic encounter.
She was originally charged with aggravated assault, but within the last few weeks the charges were dismissed and ruled self defense after being found not guilty at trial.
NewsChannel 6 is also learning Domingo formerly worked at Belair Dental Associates in Columbia County.
A sign and wreath are now on the front door, as the business is closed indefinitely.
In a statement on Facebook, the office says: “We are deeply saddened to inform you of the tragic loss of one of our team members. This has tremendously affected our team and as we come to terms with this loss, we have made the difficult decision to close our office temporarily. During this time, we believe it would be best for us to focus on supporting one another and processing this tragedy. We understand that this may be inconvenient, and we sincerely apologize for any disruption to your dental care. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate through this challenging time. We will keep you updated on when we will resume normal operations.”
“Just think about a child that was present, and saw his mom and grandmother gunned down. That’s something they’re going to have to deal with for the rest of their lives,” said Brantley.
If you are a victim, the Sheriff’s Office is encouraging you to use the hotline phone numbers for SafeHomes of Augusta and the Salvation Army of Augusta.
The hotline number for SafeHomes of Augusta is (706) 736-2499.
The Salvation Army of Augusta’s hotline is (706) 826-7933.
We also reached out to Domingo’s former attorney’s office for comment, and they declined.
