A former jail guard with the NYC Department of Corrections was placed under arrest and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly attacked his estranged wife with a gun.

The suspect is a 54-year-old man from Queens, New York. He is currently going through a divorce from his wife. The divorce had reportedly been in the works for a while when the couple got into an altercation with his wife at their shared residence on 59th Street in the Woodside neighborhood of Queens. The altercation allegedly ended in violence. According to authorities, the suspect became upset and used a .38-caliber revolver to shoot his wife in the chest.

After the shooting, the suspect allegedly fled the apartment building. Meanwhile, local law enforcement received a report of gunshots being fired and dispatched police officers to the scene. When cops arrived at the residence, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to her chest. Emergency crews rushed the victim to Elmhurst Hospital Center in Elmhurst, New York, where doctors treated her for the gunshot wound and removed bullet fragments from her spleen, stomach, and adrenal glands. Fortunately, the victim is expected to survive the shooting.

While the victim was being treated for her injuries, NYPD detectives investigated the incident. The investigation included a search of the crime scene, which allegedly turned up the handgun used to commit the shooting. Police officers also searched the surrounding area and found the suspect walking near the intersection of 60th Street and Queens Boulevard, not far from the site of the shooting. The suspect was arrested without incident and taken to police headquarters for processing.

Domestic Violence Charges in New York

The suspect faces numerous criminal charges in connection with the violent shooting, including charges for attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. The suspect has also been charged with endangering the welfare of a child because a minor was reportedly present at the home when the shooting occurred. Queens NY officials indicated that the juvenile is the seven-year-old grandchild of the suspect and the victim.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the most serious charges of attempted murder, he could be sentenced to as many as 25 years in state prison. Even the lesser charges could result in the suspect spending a very long time behind bars.

In addition to facing criminal charges and prison time, the suspect could also be subject to a restraining order because the shooting may be classified as a domestic violence incident. Domestic violence charges are handled through a separate court system and can result in the imposition of a final restraining order (FRO), which would limit the suspect’s ability to interact with his estranged wife. NYPD officials have yet to reveal whether the suspect has a history of domestic incident reports being filed against him.

 

If you were arrested and charged with a crime in New York, or if you were accused of domestic violence and face a restraining order hearing, it is imperative that you have a qualified criminal defense attorney on your side. The experienced criminal defense lawyers at the LaDuca Law Firm will help you contest the charges. Contact us anytime to schedule a consultation at our office in Rochester, NY.