A whirlwind romance ended abruptly in blood and tears Sunday, family members say, after a young groom was shot and killed following a violent scuffle between neighbors.

Juan Dominguez, a 24-year-old construction worker, wed Alejandra Moran, 22, on Friday three months after they met at a nightclub.

The pair celebrated their nuptials in front of their one-story home in the 10000 block of Epsom in northeast Houston Saturday night. Family members say a fight broke out about money and possibly drugs around 1 a.m. Sunday between Dominguez, his brother and two guests.

The argument spilled out onto the street, but not before one of the two visiting men fired a shot into the air and stabbed Dominguez's brother, family friend Wendy Rodriguez said.

The groom and his injured brother then chased the men to a two-story home in a cluster of rentals down the road at 10011 Epsom, Houston Police Department officials said.

"The groom and his brother tried to enter the home by kicking and beating on the door," HPD spokesman Kese Smith said. "The home's resident, inside and fearing for his life, fired a gun fatally striking the groom."

Dominguez died at the scene, Smith said. His brother was taken to LBJ General Hospital with non-life-threatening wounds.

A resident who had been living in the area for four months and asked not to be identified got a front row seat to the bloody brawl.

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Awoken by screaming, she said she watched in horror from her bedroom window as the two men beat Dominguez and his brother with their fists in front of their parents' home before one of them retrieved a shotgun.

Moving away

One of the men then shot Dominguez, the neighbor said.

"He could've chosen not to shoot him (Dominguez)," she said, describing how the groom cried out for his mother with his last dying breath.

She and her husband were packing their belongings Monday into a brown pickup truck and ushering children into the vehicle. They say the neighborhood is no longer safe.

"I don't know if they are going to do something or retaliate," she said.

Across the street, Jessica Barrera, 24, said she's more surprised than scared.

Barrera said she's grown up with the two men accused of shooting Dominguez and stabbing his brother. She described the pair as churchgoers who often played basketball with her older brother.

Barrera doesn't think they would ever purposely shoot anyone nor be involved with drugs.

"They're very family-oriented, so I think it was self-defense," Barrera said. "This is the first time something like this has ever happened here."

Wife is pregnant

Dominguez leaves behind a 4-year-old son, Jesus Carrillo. His wife is also two months pregnant. Those close to the bride say she is too distraught to talk and may seek therapy.

"Juan was really responsible with my sister. He was a hard worker and always did things right," said sister-of-the-bride Mariela Moran, noting he liked to take Alejandra Moran on excursions to nearby lakes.

"(Alejandra) is in shock," family friend Wendy Rodriguez said. "She still thinks he's alive."

A service for Dominguez is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Cavazos Funeral Home at 2412 Little York Road. It is open to the public.

Police say the case will be referred to the Harris County grand jury. HPD investigators could not comment on the investigation.

jessica.priest@chron.com