A 26-Year-Old Single Dad Killed on a Date with a Woman He Met on Instagram: Two Charged with Murder
- Victor Nwoko
- May 8
- 3 min read
Two individuals have been charged with murder in connection to the killing of Jarrell Lamont Pryor, a 26-year-old single father who was ambushed and fatally shot during what he believed would be a casual date in Indianapolis. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of January 25, 2025, when police responded to reports of gunfire and discovered Pryor lying next to a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died.
Investigators identified Alexis Hawkins, 19, and her boyfriend Brian Winston Jr., 18, as the primary suspects. The two were linked to the crime after detectives uncovered a trail of Instagram messages exchanged between Hawkins and Pryor, as well as separate texts exchanged between Hawkins and Winston. The messages suggested that Hawkins had lured Pryor into a trap under the guise of a date, while simultaneously coordinating with Winston to carry out a robbery.
Pryor had finished his warehouse shift that Saturday evening and was excited to meet Hawkins, whom he had been messaging earlier that day. The two met in person, and Pryor intended to take her to dinner. Instead, at Hawkins’s urging, they stopped at a McDonald’s and then a liquor store. Surveillance footage later confirmed their presence outside the store shortly before the shooting.
Shortly after 1 a.m., less than two hours after meeting, Pryor was found shot outside his car. His phone, recovered at the scene, provided key evidence that revealed Hawkins had been communicating with Winston, allegedly bragging about scamming men and suggesting she needed money fast. One message referenced making a “play real fast” that night. When confronted about this by investigators, Hawkins denied involvement and claimed she only remembered hearing gunshots and running. She asked for a lawyer after being pressed further.
Hawkins was arrested on February 26 after reportedly being kicked out of her mother’s house just days following Pryor’s murder. Winston was arrested later, on April 2, in Austin, Texas, and extradited back to Indiana. Both are facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and attempted robbery. Winston is also charged with an additional murder count. Neither has entered a plea.
The loss of Pryor has devastated his family and friends. Known for his joyful personality and dedication to his young daughter, Honey, Pryor was deeply involved in her life. “I’m broken inside,” said his mother, Tamekia Wiley. “No justice will ever cure my broken heart.” Honey, who recently turned three, now lives with her mother, Ja’halha Feemster, and extended family. Loved ones say she continues to look for her father, pointing at his photo and saying “Da-Da.” Her grandmother noted that wearing a shirt with his picture immediately lifts her mood.
Pryor is remembered as a caring, free-spirited individual with a deep love for his daughter. He had a playful side and a performative streak—once staging a Michael Jackson tribute at school and memorizing Usher’s dance routines. He was also entrepreneurial from a young age, buying candies and school supplies to resell to classmates. Though he had dreams of becoming a professional gamer, he always prioritized being a father. Friends say he spoke about Honey constantly and dressed her in stylish outfits, including several pairs of Air Jordans.
Despite his breakup with Honey’s mother, Pryor remained close to her family and often helped care for her younger siblings. He saw it as training to be a better dad. “That girl is a spitting image of him,” said his stepfather, Travis Wiley. Friends and family remain focused on preserving his legacy and ensuring Honey remembers her father. “I pray for her to have a supernatural memory so that she can remember him,” said her grandmother. “Because we all deserved Jarrell. We absolutely did.”
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