An Atlanta man, known for a lengthy criminal history, received a guilty verdict for the 2020 murder of a LaGrange man celebrated in his community. Charlestavius Dyer, 35, was convicted on charges of murder, aggravated assault, and firearms offenses in the fatal shooting of Willie Render Jr., 56.
Render, described as a "gentle, always smiling man" who worked as a local peacemaker, was fatally shot after refusing to buy drugs from Dyer, who had moved to LaGrange to establish himself in the drug trade, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. With already 32 arrests and 3 felony convictions under his belt, Dyer's conviction now translates into a mandatory life sentence without parole.
The confrontation between Render and Dyer culminated on the night of May 29, 2020, witnesses testified, resulting in Dyer returning to the scene after an initial argument and chasing Render before shooting him. Emergency services attempted lifesaving measures, but Render was pronounced dead after his arrival at the hospital.
Surveillance footage and an anonymous tip eventually led the police to Dyer. A .45-caliber handgun, matching the murder weapon, was found with Dyer's fingerprints on it, wrapping in a black plastic bag, as noted by the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herb Cranford in a news release obtained by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Shell casings and bullets recovered from Render's body tied the gun back to the scene.
Dyer, who was prohibited from possessing firearms as a four-time felon, had been observed buying .45 caliber ammunition on the night of the murder. Despite a change in testimony by a friend of Dyer, claiming the shooting was in self-defense, the jury rejected this narrative due to it being at odds with the physical evidence.
Render's positive community stature was contrasted starkly by Dyer's troubled past and the intent to peddle narcotics. District Attorney Cranford emphasized the importance of stringent sentences for repeat offenders, "to protect our community and good citizens like Mr. Render." Dyer's sentencing is scheduled for February 5, where he will face a life term without the prospect of parole.
