A young single dad’s night out turned tragic after a date with a woman he met on Instagram. On January 25, Jarrell Pryor, 26, was shot and killed just hours after meeting Alexis Hawkins, 19. Pryor, a dedicated father to his 3-year-old daughter Honey, had been looking forward to a simple night out.
He and Hawkins connected through Instagram and planned to go to dinner. However, Hawkins appeared to be in a hurry, so they went to McDonald’s and a liquor store instead. What Pryor didn’t know was that Hawkins was allegedly texting her real boyfriend while planning an ambush.
Less than two hours after meeting in person, Pryor was found in a pool of blood outside his car. He had been shot multiple times and was later pronounced dead in the hospital. Authorities discovered crucial evidence from Pryor’s phone, which helped uncover a chilling plot.
Hawkins, after being located by police, denied any involvement in the shooting. She claimed not to remember much about that night except hearing gunshots and running away. When questioned about a suspicious text she sent earlier, she asked for a lawyer.
Soon, Hawkins and her boyfriend, 18-year-old Brian Winston Jr., were arrested. They face charges of murder and attempted robbery. For Pryor’s family, the loss is unfathomable. His mother, Tamekia Wiley, says he had big plans for his life. “He always wanted to better himself,” she recalls.
Pryor’s daughter, Honey, now lives with her mother’s family, and she is still adjusting to the loss of her father. “She looks around and says ‘Da-Da,’” says Honey’s great-grandmother, Patricia Bradshaw. “It breaks my heart.”
Pryor’s friends remember him for his infectious humor and big heart. Anijah Randle, a close friend, shared, “He was one of those people you couldn’t stay away from.”
Despite his tragic death, Pryor’s legacy lives on through his daughter. His stepdad, Travis Wiley, says, “That girl is a spitting image of him.” Everyone who knew him says he was most proud of being a father to Honey.
As the legal process moves forward, Pryor’s family and friends remain focused on ensuring Honey has a strong memory of her father. “I pray for her to have a supernatural memory,” says her grandmother. “Because we all deserved Jarrell.”
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