Pictures on Snapchat, taken just a few hours before a woman was killed in a mass shooting at an apartment complex in University City, showed the group having fun at the pool.
Monique Clark was injured when the gunman, 49-year-old Peter Selis, opened fire in a the pool party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment complex. She later died at the hospital.
"When I walked in the party, she was the first one to greet me. You know, to give her a big hug," said Drew Phillips, a friend of Clarkโs.
Seven other people were injured, and one person was shot at but not hurt, San Diego police said.
Willie Mayo told NBC 7, they were celebrating Mayoโs best friend Kion's birthday Sunday evening when the shooting began. Mayo was not at the pool during the shooting, but said he is now feeling the aftermath firsthand.
"Our circle of friends are like family, they're like family to us. They were having a good time. I was kind of jealous I wasn't there," Mayo said. "The next day, I was looking at Snapchat, talking to Kion and other friends and it was just like whoa, 'Is this real or is this fake.'"
Phillips and Mayo told NBC 7, Clark was a mother and a dear friend to many.
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"She has kids, a little one, maybe like five or six-years-old. So, very sad. Monique's a good person too, very nice. So, still trying to take it all in," said Mayo.
"Monique Clark was the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. She truly was; and she didn't deserve it...she didn't deserve it," added Phillips.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the victims to help with all of the medical costs.