A mum-of-seven, aged 25, was shielding one of her children when she was fatally shot while visiting cousins.
Chakita Jones, whose eldest is 12-years-old, was gunned down in front of her kids at a home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, US.
Her family said about 30 bullets were fired towards the house on Friday, with Ms Jones later dying in hospital from her wounds.
The mother was described as 'a very loving, caring, giving' person, who was only four days away from her 26th birthday.
Her brother Keem Jones said it was 'a miracle' none of the children in the home were injured in the shooting, ABC reports.
Her sister Brittany Fuller-Piunber added: "Why is there always gun violence? Why does this have to happen? Why?
"She would give you the shirt off her back. Very loving, caring, giving ... definitely giving.
"Obviously, this is going to be a lifelong thing that honestly falls on all of us, as a family."
The family has set-up a GoFundMe page to help pay for the funeral and Ms Jones' children.
“We are here in a position we never thought we would be in. We had to say goodbye sooner than we thought,” the GoFundMe page states.
“Kita was a very loving and dedicated single parent and she leaves behind seven precious children, and her family. The entire family is in despair.”
Police are investigating the fatal shooting and have not yet made any arrests, according to reports.
