In the light of a summer afternoon in Queens, New York, the life of Chaneil Ramsay, a 45-year-old woman and a dedicated nurse, was brought to a violent and tragic end. On June 23, 2025, what began as a day of escalating tension culminated in a fatal shooting on a residential street in the St. Albans neighborhood. The events of that day were a shocking conclusion to a history of domestic turmoil that had reportedly plagued her for at least a year.
The trouble began earlier that day when
Ramsay discovered the window of her Jeep Grand Cherokee had been smashed with a brick. Soon after, she received menacing text messages from her estranged husband, Audwin Caines, which included a photo of the damage and a threat of further harm. A few hours later, the situation devolved into a terrifying street pursuit. Caines, armed with a firearm, confronted Ramsay and her 21-year-old daughter. As the two women fled, he opened fire. In a final, selfless act, Ramsay attempted to shield her daughter from the gunfire, running toward Caines to draw his attention. It was then that he shot her multiple times at point-blank range, striking her in the head and body. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but her injuries were too severe, and she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on Caines, a 62-year-old man who was homeless at the time. Authorities revealed that this was not the first instance of violence. A year prior, in July 2024, Caines had allegedly attacked Ramsay in their home, striking her with a bottle of alcohol before stabbing her with its broken shards after she asked him to leave. Following a manhunt, U.S. Marshals apprehended Caines in Manhattan on July 15, 2025.
Prosecutors moved swiftly, charging Caines with a litany of offenses that painted a grim picture of his alleged actions. The charges included second-degree murder for the death of his estranged wife, attempted murder for the act of shooting at her daughter, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He was also charged in connection with the previous year's assault. Following his arrest, Caines was arraigned and indicted, facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted. The case stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
