Talisha Danielle Crowder, a 19-year-old African American woman from Salisbury, NC, tragically lost her life on January 18, 2016. Talisha was a pre-med student at Pfeiffer University, working hard to fulfill her dreams of becoming a doctor. Her life was cut short due to a senseless and violent crime.
On the night of her death, Talisha was found shot to death inside a parked car. Her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Jerron Hawkins, was arrested and charged with her murder.
Hawkins, who was 20 years old at the time, was accused of shooting Talisha inside his 1991 Honda Accord. The vehicle was found parked in an apartment parking lot at 311 N. Long St., with Talisha slumped over in the passenger seat, a gunshot wound to the left side of her skull.
Hawkins was charged with first-degree murder and larceny of a firearm. He had broken into his parents' gun safe earlier that day and stolen a loaded 9 mm handgun. After leaving a suicide note for his mother, he drove to Talisha's home and asked to speak with her. The two had broken up a week before, and Talisha was planning to return to Pfeiffer University that evening. However, she never made it back to school. Hawkins confessed to shooting Talisha after she got into his car, stating, "She looked away for a second, and I shot her".
In March 2017, Hawkins pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and larceny of a firearm. He was sentenced to no less than 28.75 years in prison without parole. The plea agreement was reached after discussions with Talisha's family, who expressed a desire to avoid reliving the events through a jury trial. Hawkins will receive mental health and substance abuse treatment while incarcerated.
