The family of a 19-year-old East Nashville woman shot and killed outside of the Cayce Homes Apartments Tuesday believe her death was premeditated.
Vastoria Lucas was on her way to church when she was shot near a playground.
Police charged 28-year-old Kevin Caprice Smith with criminal homicide after he admitted to shooting Lucas. Lucas' mother Michelle Birch said her daughter's death is unreal.
"All those other kids were there, were around. He wasn't just trying to shoot any kid. After shooting her once in her leg, shot her in another leg, watch her try to crawl away then he went and shot her in the rest of her body. He meant to do exactly what he was doing," Birch said.
Wednesday night, family held a candlelight vigil at the spot where Lucas died.
"She was so loving and so caring and everybody loved her. I mean everybody in the community where we live," Birch said.
Lucas loved to play basketball. She was set to graduate from Stratford STEM Magnet High School in May. This week, the teen and her mother were making plans for prom.
"Right now she was trying to go to the prom. 'Mom I want to get all the stuff for the prom I want a white suit, I want this. We're still going to have a graduation party for her because her grades were good enough right now and in two months, it's not going to change enough where she's not going to graduate," Birch said.
After graduating, Lucas wanted to play basketball for either Vanderbilt or Trevecca University.
"She was a good person, loved Jesus Christ, loved her family more than anything in the world. She loved her family," Birch smiled.
Birch said what she'll miss the most are Lucas' hugs and kisses.
"Can you imagine someone hugging and kissing you...no more," she said.
Family and friends plan to hold another candlelight vigil for Lucas on Friday
