Family and Friends Gather to Honor Maurice 'Girlalala' Harrison at Emotional Memorial

On a solemn Friday evening, approximately 100 individuals assembled in Pompano Beach to pay tribute to Maurice Harrison, affectionately known as "Girlalala."

Attendees, clad in T-shirts bearing Harrison's image and holding pink balloons, stood together in remembrance of the 21-year-old's vibrant life.

Many held candles, reflecting on the profound impact Harrison had on their lives.

"She loved making people smile, making people happy," shared friend Jazzmann Lasane.

"Everyone who knew her looked up to her and respected her."

Known as "Lala" to her close friends, Harrison was a prominent transgender social media influencer with a substantial following on TikTok and Instagram.

Her signature phrase, "I'm the real Girlalala," resonated among those gathered in her honor.

"Everybody is hurt," Lasane expressed.

"My heart goes out to her close friends and her parents—they lost two children in the past year.

Her brother passed away last August."

Harrison's life was tragically cut short a week prior, with authorities alleging that her boyfriend, 25-year-old Shanoyd Whyte Jr., was responsible.

He has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder with a firearm.

Surveillance footage from a nearby Tesla captured a man, identified by investigators as Whyte, walking around the vehicle with a gun.

Detectives report that an argument between Whyte and Harrison escalated, leading to her being shot while seated inside the car.

During the memorial, a speaker urged attendees to transform their grief into action.

"Don't let this tragedy be in vain because the person who did it thought they was gonna erase him from this earth," she stated.

Loved ones emphasized that the service was just the beginning of ongoing efforts to honor Harrison's life and legacy.

"It happened for a reason," Lasane reflected.

"And it's something for us to learn from, and I know everyone who loves her is gonna do everything they can to keep her name alive."