Pueblo victim of domestic violence remembered with Renee Dominguez Day
The city of Pueblo has named Nov. 14 "Renee Dominguez Day," officially commemorating the life of the local woman who fell victim to domestic violence earlier this year.
Dominguez was killed on Jan. 14 in a shooting at Dollar General, marking the city's first homicide of 2022. The man who police say shot her, 59-year-old Jerome Bustos, was her ex-boyfriend, who Dominguez had filed for a restraining order against in November 2021, court records show.
A temporary restraining order was granted on Nov. 10, which police say Bustos violated several times. The case was continued twice, and the restraining order was vacated on Dec. 22, 2021.
On Jan. 13, Dominguez's lawyers filed an amended complaint requesting a new protection order, indicating further instances of domestic abuse, stalking and physical assault.
Dominguez was killed the next day.
Bustos died by suicide in El Paso County after the shooting, according to Pueblo police.
In a proclamation read by Pueblo City Council President Heather Graham during Monday's meeting, Dominguez was remembered as a "beloved mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend," who grew up in Texas and Colorado, where she attended Pueblo Central High School and graduated from Intellitec College in Pueblo as a registered medical assistant, and worked for Southern Colorado Clinic Urgent-Care.
She was described as a caring, loyal family member to her children and to her mother, as well as being an advocate for her patients.
"She loved dancing to Hispanic music and was a fisherman and hunter," according to the proclamation. "She cared for the wellbeing of all, her family, friends, patients, and even a stranger. In her last few minutes, a lady in front of her didn't have enough money to pay the cashier. Renee paid her total for her. Her caring and kind heart had no limits. She was a bright light to anyone she met."
The council proclamation urges citizens to support programs that highlight domestic violence awareness and "make a difference to one child, one woman, or one family who suffers from the pain of this violence."
A park bench in Pueblo City Park will also be dedicated to Dominguez's memory on Friday at 1 p.m. Her family is encouraging anyone who attends to wear purple.
Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo victim of domestic violence remembered with Renee Dominguez Day
