25-year-old mother of 7 died after shielding child during North Carolina shooting, family says

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Police are investigating after a young mother of seven was shot and killed in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Officers were called to Danish Drive on Friday around 11:23 p.m. for reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found a woman in the home who had been shot.

The victim, who has since been identified as Chakita Jones, 25, of Fayetteville, was unresponsive. First responders took her to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in critical condition.

Jones was later transported to UNC Medical Center, where she died from her injuries Saturday evening.

Family members tell WTVD she was a mother to seven children.

Jones's sister, Mia Fuller, said Jones was at home with four of her children when shots were fired.

Fuller said her sister was found clutching one of her children, in an effort to shield the child from gunshots.

Fuller added Jones' 26th birthday was just four days away.

The youngest of Jones' children is two-months-old and the oldest is 12-years-old.

The family has set-up a GoFundMe for funeral expenses and money for the children Jones leaves behind.

Fayetteville Police Department is actively investigating the shooting.