A Queens man has been charged with the shooting death of his estranged wife and the attempted murder of her daughter, as announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Audwin Caines, 62, is facing multiple charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder for the June 23, 2025 shooting in St. Albans, Queens.
The charges detail a violent and tragic series of events leading to the incident. According to the statement from the Queens District Attorney's Office, the victim, Chaniel Ramsey, a 45-year-old woman, died trying to protect her daughter from the gun violence inflicted by Caines. The indictment also includes an incident from July 2024, when Caines is alleged to have tried to stab Ramsey with a broken bottle.
Caines, who is currently without a home, was arraigned on an eight-count indictment that included charges of murder in the second degree, as well as two counts each of attempted murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, among other charges. If convicted, Caines could face up to 75 years to life in prison.
On the day of the shooting, Ramsey and her 21-year-old daughter were on 176th Street when they saw Caines approach and began to run. He allegedly started to shoot at them, and after attempting to hide behind a parked car, Ramsey stood up and ran, reportedly in an effort to distract Caines from her daughter. She was then shot multiple times at point-blank range and did not survive her injuries. This tragic sequence was detailed by Katz, emphasizing the protective actions taken by Ramsey in her final moments.
The previous attack from July 2024 occurred after an altercation in their Irwin Place home, where Caines allegedly struck Ramsey with a bottle of alcohol before stabbing her with the broken bottle. Caines eluded arrest for over a year before being apprehended on July 15, in Manhattan.
Detectives Daniel Connors and James Zozzaro led the investigation, which was conducted by the 113th Detective Squad and the Queens South Homicide Squad. Assistant District Attorney Eric Weinstein is prosecuting the case with a team that includes Alexa Ornelas and is supervised by John Kosinski, Karen Ross, Jonathan Selkowe, and under the executive oversight of Shawn Clark.
DA Katz has urged anyone suffering from domestic violence to reach out for help, ensuring round-the-clock availability from her office. "Do not suffer in silence," Katz said, providing the Queens District Attorney's Office contact number for those in need of assistance.
