Anishalee Cortes, a 22-year-old female, was tragically killed in a murder-suicide on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. The incident unfolded in Roselle, New Jersey, where Dominick Richards, 49, fatally shot Cortes before taking his own life. The shooting occurred in the driveway of Richards' home on Chestnut Street. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, and a handgun was recovered.
The violent act was the culmination of a history of domestic violence. Richards had been arrested on April 8, 2017, after Anishalee reported to Newark police that he had assaulted her and threatened her with a gun at her home. The weapon from that incident was confiscated by law enforcement. Following the April assault, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office filed a motion to have Richards detained.
However, a judge released him on April 13 with the conditions that he have no contact with Cortes and not possess a firearm.
In the wake of the initial assault, Anishalee Cortes sought legal protection. She obtained a Temporary Restraining Order against Richards on April 17, which was followed by a Final Restraining Order on May 2. Despite these measures, Richards confronted and killed her just over a month later. Authorities described the deaths as a murder-suicide.
