Murder outside of mini-mart leads to life sentence without parole

A jury has convicted a man accused of murdering another man, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

During a two-week trial, jurors deliberated for approximately 12 hours before finding Renardo C. Williams, now 27 years old, guilty of one count each of First Degree Murder, Assault with Intent to Kill, Carrying a Firearm, and Carrying a Loaded Firearm. Williams was sentenced to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.

At approximately 10:15 p.m. on May 12, 2018, Brockton Police received a Shotspotter notification for multiple shots fired in the area of 139 Pleasant Street. Simultaneously, Brockton Police received a 911 call from a male shooting victim reporting that he been shot multiple times. Upon arrival, Brockton Police found two males suffering from gunshot wounds inside the vehicle. One of the victims, 26-year-old Bethgy Cator, of Avon, who was the driver of the vehicle, was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton where he was pronounced deceased. The second male victim survived the shooting.

Brockton Police contacted Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and an investigation commenced.

Surveillance video and witness statements established that Williams had encountered both victims at a food store at 390 Pleasant Street minutes before the shooting. In an apparent effort to conduct a drug transaction, Williams entered the rear of Cator’s vehicle, which proceeded to 139 Pleasant Street. Williams then exited the rear seat and opened fire on Cator and the second victim.

Williams fled to Delaware in the days following the homicide. He was placed under arrest on warrants on May 16, 2018.

At trial, the jury heard details of police interviews and reviewed surveillance video taken from the area on that evening. Brockton Police found eleven spent .40 caliber shell casings outside the vehicle. The jury additionally heard about forensic evidence found at the scene which included fingerprints on the rear driver’s side door belonging to Williams.