"He took the best part of me; that was my child, that was the best thing I've ever done in my life," Dash, the mother of 5-year-old Khloe Fennell, told ABC11 on Thursday.
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Khloe was killed Wednesday in a shooting at her home in east Durham.
Another young girl, 15-year-old Destiny Sidberry, who is Khloe's cousin -- was babysitting her and another cousin when they were shot by 42-year-old Brian Luster.
Luster is Dash's first cousin and had been staying with them as they tried to help him get through his battle with drug addiction.
"She loved him, so for you to take my baby away from me, you're a coward," Dash said
Family members said Destiny dived in front of the bullets to shield Khloe and 1-year-old Amir Deloach, the other child.
You took something so precious from us," Dash said. "My niece is going to be traumatized for the rest of her life because she dove in front of those bullets."
Destiny was shot seven times, but encouragingly, was said to be improving at Duke University Hospital on Thursday night.
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ABC11 also spoke with Amir's mother,
"Khloe was my baby, too," said Tamera Roberts. "So you know, it's hard for all of us. Khloe didn't deserve this, Destiny didn't deserve this, nobody did."
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Durham Police investigators said Luster shot the girls with Dash's gun, which she said was locked up.
Several community members gathered in downtown Durham on Thursday to mourn the loss. Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews attended but was too emotional to talk about the case.
Dash had already lost her mom and dad, and now, she's lost her only child. The family is using an online fundraiser to try to help Dash get out of her east Durham house.
"I don't wish this feeling on no one," Dash said.