Curse of People Magazine

PHILADELPHIA - An 18-year-old gunned down on his way home from work had been honored by People magazine this past summer as an outstanding father.

Terrell Pough, a single parent who worked to support his 2-year-old daughter while finishing school, was shot in the head Thursday night in front of his home, police said. He later died at a hospital.

Pough, the night manager at a fast-food restaurant, was not robbed and has no record of violence, police said.

However, his family said his new car and its key were missing. The Honda Civic was given to him by someone who had read the People article, which ran in August.

The magazine called Pough "a rare breed of teenaged dads who are trying to raise children."

Pough attended the YouthBuild Charter School in North Philadelphia, where he was learning construction skills by rebuilding abandoned houses. He was set to graduate in June.

Pough stood out in his rough neighborhood as a single father with custody of his daughter, Diamond. He was quoted in People as saying: "If something ever happens to me, no one can ever tell her that her dad didn't take care of her."