Chinx's widow joins COVID-19 fight
NEW YORK - Five years have passed since the rapper Lionel Pickens, known by his stage name Chinx, was shot and killed during a drive-by shooting in Jamaica, Queens. His widow, Janelli Caceres-Pickens, is still fighting for justice in the case.
"Thank god I'm busy with the kids and work and stuff. I don't really have the time to go into depression about it," she said. "You just have to take it how it is and keep your day going."
And she is also fighting on the front line of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. She works 12-hour shifts in environmental and emergency services at a hospital on Long Island. She told FOX 5 NY she wanted to help fight the coronavirus and also support her three children, who are all navigating the new normal.
"They're tired of being at home. They're driving each other crazy, they're driving me crazy," Caceres-Pickens said. "You know, getting used to this whole school thing online and not seeing their friends."
When Chinx's life was taken on May 17, 2015, his hit song with superstar rapper French Montana was on Hot 97. life was looking lovely. But it all changed when a gunman took aim at his Porsche.
Caceres-Pickens fought tirelessly for answers after Chinx's death. And she still hasn't stopped.
After two and a half years of investigation, the NYPD arrested Quincy Homere and Jemar Hill for Chinx's murder. Detectives said their motive was jealousy.
Caceres-Pickens has been in the courtroom every step of the way to make sure they see justice.
"We've been going through this process for so long, it doesn't feel like five years, it still feels fresh, it still feels like it just happened," Caceres Pickens said. "It's a lot."
Since their arrest, the suspects have been behind bars on unrelated cases which must be resolved before the Chinx murder trial can move forward. No matter how long it takes, however, Caceres Pickens says she is determined to see it through to the end until justice is done.