Man Lured on Instagram Date and Shot Dead in Indianapolis, Alleged Killers Charged with Murder

A young father, Jarrell Pryor, pictured in happier times with a child, tragically lost his life after being lured into a fatal encounter orchestrated through social media.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN- A young Indianapolis man, Jarrell Pryor, 26, was tragically killed after being lured on a date by 19-year-old Alexis Hawkins and her boyfriend, Brian Winston Jr., in a scheme that turned deadly. Pryor, a dedicated single father, was shot multiple times after meeting Hawkins for the first time in person, just hours after the two connected on Instagram.

Pryor had made plans to meet Hawkins, whom he had been messaging on Instagram, for a dinner date. However, Hawkins appeared in a rush, so the two drove to a McDonald's and then a liquor store instead. Pryor didn't know that Hawkins had been texting her real boyfriend, Winston, and the couple had allegedly planned an ambush.

By 1 a.m. on January 25, less than two hours after meeting Hawkins, Pryor was found dead outside his car from multiple gunshot wounds. His phone was nearby, and its data revealed disturbing evidence of a potential scam. Investigators quickly unraveled the scheme after examining Pryor’s phone, leading to the arrest of Hawkins and Winston.

Following Pryor’s death, police worked to piece together the events of that fateful night. Hawkins, who had been kicked out of her mother’s house just two days after the shooting, denied any involvement in the shooting. She claimed to have no memory of the evening, except for hearing gunshots and fleeing for safety.

However, detectives uncovered a text message Hawkins sent that night to an unnamed individual, mentioning needing money and making a “play real fast.” Upon hearing this, Hawkins remained silent and requested a lawyer, a response that intensified investigators’ suspicions.

Both Hawkins and Winston, 18, were subsequently arrested and charged with murder and attempted robbery. The case has left Pryor’s family in shock, as they struggle to make sense of the loss of a young man with so many plans for his future.

Jarrell Pryor was a loving father to his 3-year-old daughter, Honey, whom he had been raising with his ex-girlfriend. Despite his challenges as a single dad, Pryor was committed to providing Honey a stable and loving environment. His family remembers him as a hardworking, free-spirited individual with a great sense of humor.

“My baby is gone,” said Pryor’s mother, Tamekia Wiley, expressing the heartbreak that the family feels over the sudden loss. Despite his death, his family and friends remember him for his dedication to his daughter, charm, and love for life. “He was one of those people you just couldn’t stay away from,” said his friend, Anijah Randle.

In addition to being a devoted father, Pryor dreamed of becoming a professional video gamer and was passionate about his hobbies, including playing Call of Duty. He had a strong performative streak, once performing a Michael Jackson tribute at school. Pryor’s friends and family remember him for his infectious personality and commitment to his daughter.

“He always wanted to better himself,” said his mother. “He had so many plans.”

Pryor’s untimely death has left a void in the lives of those who knew him. His ex-girlfriend, Ja’halha Feemster, now raises Honey, and his family is left to mourn the loss of the man who was so involved in his daughter’s life.

“He didn’t get the chance to be there for her,” said N’yalha Feemster, Pryor’s mother-in-law. “He would have been there for her, but she didn’t give him a chance.”

Honey, who now wears a shirt with her father’s picture, often looks around and calls out for her “Da-Da.” For those who loved Pryor, the grief is immeasurable. “She has a little shirt with his picture, and it shifts her whole mood when wearing it,” said her grandmother, Patricia Bradshaw.

Both Hawkins and Winston remain in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. While they denied wrongdoing, they have not entered pleas, and their attorneys did not comment on the case. For Pryor’s family and friends, however, the focus remains on keeping his memory alive, especially for his young daughter.

“I pray for her to have a supernatural memory so that she can remember him,” said Honey’s grandmother. “Because we all deserved Jarrell. We did.”