Do you know who killed Robert \Ernie\ Reno in 2011? On the evening of November 11, 2011, Robert Earnest 'Ernie' Reno, a 40-year-old white male, was shot multiple times near his home in East Knoxville, Tennessee. Just eight days shy of his 41st birthday, he bled to death alone in the dark. His body was not discovered until after midnight on November 12th, when a resident of Selma Avenue arrived home from work to find him lying in her yard, a mere ten feet from her front door.
It appeared that in his final moments, Reno had been trying to crawl up a small hill toward the house, perhaps in a desperate search for help.
Investigators determined that earlier in the evening, Reno had ridden his bicycle to a local market and then to a friend's house for a brief visit. He made it back to his own residence on Skyline Drive, less than a quarter of a mile from where he was found. Evidence of his return was clear, as his bicycle and the groceries he had purchased were inside his home. For reasons that remain unknown, he left his house again, this time on foot, and walked into the night. Around 8 p.m., a neighbor heard the sound of six rapid gunshots, a chilling premonition of the tragedy to come. Blood evidence found on Selma Avenue suggests he was shot on the street before he managed to cross into the yard where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Reno was a familiar face in his neighborhood, often seen riding his bicycle and collecting aluminum cans. Described by some as a 'sweet guy' who wouldn't hurt a fly, he was also a man who struggled with personal demons. A former brick mason, he was on disability after being seriously injured in a fight years earlier. His father acknowledged that his son had a problem with alcohol and could become agitated and hostile when he drank. In the years since his death, the Knoxville Police Department has continued to investigate the homicide, conducting numerous interviews and analyzing evidence. They even produced a re-enactment video in an appeal for public assistance. Despite these efforts, the case has grown cold. No suspects have ever been named, and no arrests have been made, leaving the question of who killed Ernie Reno and why unanswered.
