Do you know who murdered William Noel in 2017? In the summer of 2017, the life of William Kahari Noel, a 30-year-old Black/African American male, was tragically cut short in Syracuse, New York. On the early morning of July 5th, Noel was the victim of a fatal shooting on East Fayette Street. The incident, which also involved another individual being shot, marked another grim chapter in a year that saw a spike in violence within the city. Responding to reports of gunfire shortly after midnight, Syracuse Police arrived to a somber scene.
Noel had sustained critical injuries and, despite any efforts to save him, he succumbed to his wounds at the location of the shooting.
A lifelong resident of Syracuse, William Noel was remembered as a devoted family man. His sudden and violent death left a void in the lives of his parents, William and Felicia Noel, his fiancée, Shante Ray, and his four children, a son named Jaiden and three daughters, Aniyah, Lamiyah, and Alaya. His siblings and a wider community of family and friends also mourned the profound loss. Funeral services were held on July 13, 2017, at Bethany Baptist Church, where those who knew and loved him gathered to pay their final respects before he was laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery.
In the wake of the shooting, the Syracuse Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Despite their efforts to address the surge in violent crimes that year, and success in solving other homicides, the case of William Noel's murder has remained unsolved. To date, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with his death. The community and Noel's family continue to await justice, his case a poignant and unresolved reminder of the impact of gun violence. The Syracuse Police Department has urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward as the investigation remains open.
