ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Albany police are investigating a deadly overnight shooting that left one woman dead and four others injured.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler confirmed a woman died following the shooting at Holloway Avenue and South Cleveland Street. Officials say the incident happened at about 10:43 p.m. Tuesday night.

The woman who died was 31-year-old Kiambria Young, according to the Albany Police Department (APD). Young’s family said that she was a mother of five.

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Friend says Young was a ‘good spirit’ and a devoted mother

Octavius Spencer, who said he was Young’s friend, said he knew her through her cousin and described Young as someone who was caring and loved being a mom.

“She just was a good spirit, man. And I just hate that that even happened to her,” Spencer said.

Spencer said people in the neighborhood knew Young’s routine and expected to see her and her children out as usual.

“She would have been at work right now as we speak,” Spencer said. “Soon as she get out of work, she let her kid go out the door and play. They would have been on their scooter by now.”

Witness describes taking cover as shots rang out

Spencer said the gunfire erupted quickly, and that he took cover.

“Basically, I was here, and I was getting down low myself when they started shooting,” Spencer said. “So when I got down low and got where I needed to go to take cover, I heard her cousin yelling, ‘they got Kiki, they killed Kiki.’”

Spencer said he knew something had happened but still didn’t want to believe it.

“I knew then she was gone, but I still wanted to see it for myself,” he said. “I didn’t want to believe it.”

He said he then saw Young on the ground and spoke with police.

“I did come back out the door, and I saw that she was laying down on the ground,” Spencer said. “And the police officer asked me what happened. I told them ‘I don’t know what happened. I just know we got shot at.’”

Spencer said he asked whether she would be OK.

“I was asking, ‘Well, she’s okay? She gonna make it?” he said. “And they were like, ‘They can’t tell me anything like that.’ And I just broke down crying then.”

‘Not even safe at home,’ neighbor says

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said people in the area are worried about violence happening close to where families live.

“Living in this … neighborhood, it’s really crazy,” the neighbor said. “Not even safe at home. Kids can’t come outside and play. Never know when … something gonna pop off.”

Community members call for an end to violence and build a memorial

At the scene Wednesday, community members placed items to honor Young.

Beauty, a community member who said she did not know Young personally, said she came because the situation hit her as a mother.

“As a mother myself, this is a very tragic situation and no one deserves to lose their life behind gun violence,” Beauty said. “Mother’s Day is coming up. Y’all have to stop all the violence … because y’all taking families’ lives away and loved ones away.”

Beauty said she believes the impact extends beyond one family.

“That’s all we got is our village,” she said. “And when you take people out the village, it’s going to make it harder for everybody else around them.”

Beauty said she has also experienced loss due to gun violence.

“I lost my kid’s father to gun violence,” she said. “So I know how it feels to lose somebody against guns and violence.”

She urged others to bring items to remember Young.

“Anybody please come put teddy bears, candles, anything to represent this mother’s life and make sure she’s never forgotten,” Beauty said. “Because she didn’t deserve this.”

The family is now accepting donations to help with funeral arrangements and the care of the 5 children.

Donations can be made to Young’s mothers’ cashapp: $TMOE0830.

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