Rene Knox

Rene Chaney Knox Jr. was a young man with a warm spirit and a memorable smile, navigating a new life in a new city. He was 26 years old and, like so many others, had been displaced from his home in the New Orleans area by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Seeking a fresh start, the African-American man relocated to Houston, Texas, a courageous move that spoke to the resilience of a young person determined to rebuild. His family remembered him as a very loving and devoted son to his mother, Alice Jackson, and his father, Rene Knox, Sr. He was also a brother to Rev. Mitchell Jackson, Min. Tammy Orange, Anthony Reed, and Keisha Stevenson.

The early morning hours of Saturday, March 24, 2007, brought a sudden and violent end to Rene’s journey. At approximately 3:25 a.m., the sound of six gunshots echoed through the parking lot of an apartment complex at 2710 W. Bellfort in Houston. When residents and witnesses rushed to see what had happened, they saw a man walking away from a 1998 four-door Cadillac. He was holding a chrome semi-automatic pistol in his hand. Inside the car, they discovered Rene in the driver's seat, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Houston Police Department officers and Houston Fire Department paramedics were called to the scene, but it was too late. Rene Knox was pronounced dead in his vehicle. The gunman had vanished into the night. Witnesses provided police with a detailed description of the man they saw leaving the scene. He was described as a light-skinned Black or Hispanic male, standing approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 180 pounds. He was dressed in black athletic gear, including a long-sleeved pullover shirt, black baseball shorts, a black baseball cap, and distinctive black and red Michael Jordan athletic shoes.

The investigation into Rene's murder was launched by the HPD Homicide Division, with Sergeant J.W. Belk and Officer M.J. Miller leading the initial inquiry. Despite the eyewitness accounts and the specific description of the suspect, no immediate arrests were made. The motive for the shooting was not publicly identified, leaving a painful void of unanswered questions for Rene's grieving family and friends. His death left a profound sense of loss, particularly for those who had watched him navigate the challenges of starting over after the hurricane.

In the years that followed, Rene's case grew cold. His father, Rene Sr., passed away in 2020, having had to bear the tragedy of outliving his son. Public records indicate Rene Jr. was interred at Belle Grove Cemetery in Kenner, Louisiana, a testament to his family's deep roots in the New Orleans area from which they were forced to flee. The memory of "Lil Rene," as one family friend recalled him, lives on in the hearts of those who knew him during his teenage years and remembered his warmth.

As of March 2007, the investigation into the murder of Rene Chaney Knox Jr. remains open but unsolved. The Houston Police Department continues to seek information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the person responsible for his death. Authorities urge anyone with knowledge of the case, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. A reward may be available through Crime Stoppers, who can be reached at 713-222-TIPS. The HPD Homicide Division can be contacted directly at 713-308-3600.