Renard Willis IV, a 33-year-old man known for a smile that could light up a room, was remembered by loved ones as a beautiful spirit with big dreams. His family described him as a good man who worked hard and encouraged others. Renard, a male, had a passion for music, a love he shared with his father, Renard Powell. He was also an aspiring entrepreneur who had recently launched his own business, Swagalicious Fruit Cups.
The business was an immediate success, and his father recalled that he could hardly keep up with the demand. Renard was born on June 1, 1993, and was cherished by his family, including his stepmother, Vanessa Powell, his cousin, Chandel Riley, and his grandmother, Beverly Jackson.
In the early morning hours of Friday, October 2, 2026, Renard’s life was cut short. Police in Greece, New York, a suburb of Rochester, received a 911 call reporting the sound of gunfire at the Imperial Manor Apartments on Stone Road. Officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3:30 a.m. Inside the apartment complex, they discovered Renard Willis IV. He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation centered around the apartment building, where police cordoned off multiple areas with crime scene tape as they began to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
The Greece Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. Detectives worked to gather evidence from the scene and identify a suspect. They utilized surveillance video from the area and employed license plate reader technology to track leads. Through this combination of evidence and technology, investigators were able to quickly pinpoint a person of interest. Police have not publicly released information regarding a possible motive or what may have preceded the shooting.
Later the same day, police arrested Troy Sowell, a 36-year-old resident of Rochester, in connection with Renard's death. Sowell was charged with second-degree murder. He was formally arraigned on Saturday, October 3, 2026, and was ordered to be held in the Monroe County Jail without bail. While an arrest was made swiftly, authorities stated that it remained an active and ongoing investigation and that a significant amount of work was still required.
As the legal process began, Renard's family and friends gathered to mourn their profound loss. On Sunday, October 4, just two days after his death, they held an emotional balloon release to celebrate his life. His stepmother, Vanessa Powell, spoke of his beautiful spirit and his dedication to his work and endeavors. His cousin, Chandel Riley, expressed the family's deep pain, stating, “He didn't deserve this. He should be here with us like everybody else. We shouldn't be doing any type of balloon release for my cousin. He still had too much life ahead of him.” His father fondly remembered his son’s love for music, saying, “He was like the son that you want to call your son.”
A visitation and a celebration of Renard's life were held on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Holy Trinity Church in Rochester, allowing the community to pay their final respects. His grandmother, Beverly Jackson, hoped people would remember the good person her grandson was. The case against Troy Sowell is proceeding through the court system as of October 2026.
