Photo: Getty Images
A Georgia teenager honored her would-be prom date after he was shot and killed last month.
According to The Root, Justin Etienne, 18, and his date, Reyaa, were set to attend their senior prom together at Salem High School this month.
Etienne, however, was tragically killed at Denny Dobbs Park in Conyers, GA during the school's "Senior Skip Day" on March 19. The victim's family said Etienne was a soccer player who was just accepted into Georgia State University.
“He had such a bright future. He had so many plans. I already know he was going to be good. His attitude said it all,” Hugh Neil, the teen’s father, said.
Reyaa mourned the loss of her prom date by incorporating his promposal into the design of her gown. The teen wore a custom rose gold dress designed by her uncle with Etienne's class photo printed on the front. One of the shoulder straps on the gown read the message: “So, in case this is the last letter I write to you, Will you make Heaven a place on Earth?” which was an homage to Etienne's promposal to Reyaa.
Video circulating on social media also showed Etienne's mother presenting Reyaa with a corsage in her son's honor.
“A Night I’ll Never Forget With a Person I’ll Always Remember💔🕊️#LLJUSTIN #Prom2025 Thank you to everyone who was a part of making the moment so memorable!” Reyaa wrote on Instagram. “The world knows his name and that warms my heart!! And Justin, mann we DEFINITELY showed out in our rose gold! I miss you so much man so much, but I know you were with me🥹!!”
Police said Jarvis Hinton Jr., 16, was arrested and charged with assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and more in connection to Etienne's shooting. Hinton is currently being held in the Newton County Detention Center.
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