On a summer day in Schenectady, New York, the life of 28-year-old Dominique Gonzalez was abruptly cut short. Known to her loved ones as 'Niki,' she passed away unexpectedly on August 2, 2015. A graduate of Brandford Hall in Colonie with a medical assistant certificate, Dominique was remembered for her vibrant personality and her love for a wide array of activities, including reading, cooking, camping, fishing, and going on motorcycle rides with her father and boyfriend.
Initially, the
circumstances surrounding her death were not clear, but it was later revealed that she was the victim of a fatal shooting. Despite the immediate response of emergency personnel, Dominique succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The Rotterdam Police Department led the investigation into her death, but details were sparse in the immediate aftermath, leaving the community in a state of shock and mourning as they awaited answers. No immediate arrests were made, adding to the sense of uncertainty and loss.
As the investigation progressed, a breakthrough was made, leading to the indictment of three individuals in connection with Dominique's murder. Maliek Fredericks, Shaliza Dhanraj, and Nyqwaun Monroe were all charged with second-degree murder and multiple counts of first-degree burglary. The trio had reportedly traveled to Schenectady after the shooting. Their eventual capture was the result of a collaborative effort between the Kingston Police Department and the New York State Police. A significant piece of evidence was the recovery of the firearm used in the crime, which was linked to Monroe through DNA evidence.
In a major development in the case, Nyqwaun Monroe pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a Class A-I felony, in January 2024. Monroe, who was already a convicted felon at the time of the shooting, faced a lengthy prison sentence for his role in Dominique's death. This guilty plea brought a degree of closure to a case that had lingered for years, though the pain of her untimely loss remains with her family and friends.
