CONVERSE, Texas — It's been exactly one month since 22-year-old Khadija Derry was shot nearly 20 times as she sat in her car in front of her family's Converse home.
Derry didn't survive the attack. Derry's family said they feel this was a targeted attack, calling the crime hateful.
"Was she the target? I have no idea, because nothing that she did in her life would grant her to be a target of such a brutal crime," said Kuquanda Perkins, Khadija's mother.
Derry is described by her family as an energetic college athlete with a love for the game of basketball. Derry devoted her time to working with youth and athletes at Sam Houston High School, where she was an alumna.
Derry's family said she had a smile that would light up any room.
"She was loved and she was loving. She would give you that same love in return," said Perkins.
Perry said on the evening of Dec. 6, she got a call telling her Derry's car had been shot in front of her home in Converse.
Perry said she frantically drove to her house.
"As we proceed to come around the corner, I see my daughter lying on the ground. I ran towards her and an officer stops me and says ma'am, and I just screamed 'that's my baby!' I just fell to my knees and I just started asking God 'please, just please help us. God please let us survive this. She doesn't deserve this, why?' That's all I remember, just yelling, 'Why Dija? What Happened Dija?'" said Perkins.
Derry's uncle Kevin Shandy also recalls arriving at the home and getting the news his niece was gone.
"Nightmare, it was a nightmare. Definitely a nightmare," said Shandy.
Perkins said her daughter's death has changed her physically and emotionally, causing sleepless nights.
"It's emotional pain, it's mental anguish. I can honestly say I have anger, I have hatred," said Perkins.
Perkins calls her daughter their Angel, because normally she would have been in the drivers seat but on that fateful day, she was not.
"I regret the fact that I wasn't driving because as a mother, I would have taken all of those bullets for my baby to still be here," said Perkins.
Derry's family said they don't feel safe in their own home. The family is left wondering if her killers will come back. The family wants justice, so they are asking for the community's help hoping someone will come forward with information.
On Sunday afternoon the family will be hosting a memorial at 3 p.m. at Sam Houston High School.
Converse police said they have good potential leads and hope to have some news in the near future.