AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — One year after Melissa Domingo and her mother, Elizabeth Domingo, were shot and killed outside an Augusta Best Buy, Melissa's family is remembering the life she was building while continuing to wait for the criminal case against her husband to move forward.

NewsChannel 6 spoke over FaceTime with Melissa's brother, Anthony Domingo, and her friend, David Carter, about the year since the killings and the warning signs they say came before them.

"The ball was dropped. The system let her down," Anthony Domingo said. "She should still be here with her son. My mother should still be here."

Court records detail a history of alleged abuse and control between Melissa and her husband, Hajir Talebzadeh.

In an earlier case, Melissa faced charges after shooting Talebzadeh. A judge later granted her immunity from prosecution after determining that she acted in self-defense.

On Sept. 7, 2025, investigators say Talebzadeh shot Melissa and her mother outside the Best Buy on Walton Way Extension during a custody exchange. Melissa's young son witnessed the shooting.

One year later, Anthony says his nephew is making progress.

"He's doing well. He's really rebounded," Anthony said. "He's not having nightmares anymore. He's doing well in school. He's with my brother and his family, and he loves it."

Talebzadeh faces 10 charges in connection with the case, including malice murder, felony murder, cruelty to children and firearm-related charges.

He has pleaded not guilty, and the case remains pending in Richmond County Superior Court.

For Melissa's family, the wait has been difficult.

"My mom and my sister, they've been gone for a year, but he gets to wake up every morning even though he's incarcerated," Anthony said. "We still have no answers, still no justice for my sister, for my mother, for my nephew, for my family."

While the court case continues, Anthony says he does not want his sister to be remembered only for how her life ended.

"She was a wonderful person. She loved life. She loved her son," Anthony said. "She was so looking forward to finally having custody of her son and having him grow up in a safe and stable environment."

Anthony says Melissa had earned two degrees, including one in biology, and planned to return to school to become a physician assistant.

A year after her death, her family continues to wait for answers while making sure Melissa is remembered for the mother, sister and woman she was, and for the future she was working toward.

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