On April 2, 2016, numerous websites circulated a sensational story claiming a New York woman named Lisa Estevez had fatally shot her boyfriend, Ray Jordan, after he proposed as part of an April Fool’s Day prank.
The tale, which quickly went viral, has since been confirmed as a hoax originating from a satirical website.
The Alleged Incident
According to the fabricated reports, Estevez, 31, was said to have shot Jordan, 25, after he presented an engagement ring box containing only a note reading “April Fools” instead of a ring. The prank allegedly triggered a violent reaction, with Estevez purportedly grabbing Jordan’s firearm and shooting him in the chest, killing him instantly.
The fake story quoted “NYPD Officer James Patterson” describing the scene and attributing the crime to the prank proposal gone awry.
Origins of the Hoax
The story first appeared on NotAllowedTo.com, a website known for publishing fictional and satirical articles. A disclaimer on the site explicitly states that all content is intended for entertainment purposes only.
Adding to the falsehood, the mugshot of “Lisa Estevez” used in the article was actually from an unrelated arrest notice from December 2015, as confirmed by a tweet from Wake Mugshots.
Previous Fabrications by NotAllowedTo.com
This isn’t the first time NotAllowedTo.com has created viral fake news. The site has a history of publishing absurd and untrue stories, including:
- A claim that Meek Mill’s father was Martin Luther King, Jr.
- A report that Americans petitioned to replace the U.S. flag with a rainbow pride version.
- A tale of a Colorado McDonald’s adding a pot-smoking section.
- A story alleging a young man murdered someone over the #WasteHisTime hashtag.
The Power of Viral Hoaxes
The rapid spread of this false story highlights the ease with which fake news can gain traction online, especially when accompanied by fabricated details and images. While the article was explicitly satirical, many readers failed to verify its origins before sharing it.
This case serves as a reminder to critically evaluate viral stories and verify information from credible sources before accepting it as fact.
