Parents share pain of losing daughter to Durham gun violence: 'Wish she was still here'

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- The woman shot and killed early Sunday morning in Durham has been identified by police.

Durham Police Department said Twanda Shante Parker, 24 of Durham was found injured near the intersection of West Morgan Street and Watts Street around 12:45 a.m.

EMS rushed her to the hospital, but she did not survive.

Pamela Parker's heart breaks as she holds her 2-year-old grandson Zaire who doesn't quite understand that he'll never see his mother again.

"It's going to be hard for me to sit there during the funeral and she be there, but if he sees her in the casket, he's going to want to go get her," said Pamela Parker.

She spoke with ABC11 as she wiped the tears streaming down her face. The memories she shared are how she wants her daughter Twanda Parker to be remembered.

"Just beautiful. So headstrong about everything and was the most beautiful person in the world. Everywhere she goes she has to take a picture," said Parker. "It didn't matter what happened or what went on. I don't understand why kill her.

According to Parker, her daughter died two years to the day that her own mother passed away which added to the family's devastation.

"She meant the world to me," said Donald Brooks, Parker's father. "I wish she were still here."

Brook was looking forward to spending time with his daughter and grandson next week, but now that won't happen.

As police continue their investigation looking for the gunman, her father shared some final words

"It just hurts to see someone her age leave this world. Not by her choice, but someone else's choice. It's just painful," he said.

No further details have been released about the shooting or any possible suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200.