Tamera Mowry honors her late niece Alaina on her 20th birthday, nearly two years after she was killed in a mass shooting
This November will mark two years since 12 people lost their lives in the Borderline Bar and Grill mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Tamera Mowry’s niece Alaina Housely was just 18-years-old at the time when she was among the victims.
The actress took to social media on Monday to honor her late niece on what would have been her 20th birthday.
Paying tribute: Tamera Mowry took to social media on Monday to honor her late niece on what would have been her 20th birthday, nearly two years after she was shot and killed in the Borderline Bar and Grill mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA
Tamera shared a photo of her son Aden, now aged seven, alongside Alaina.
‘When I look at Aden, I see glimpses of you,’ she wrote. ‘Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you.’
‘You were such an angel on this earth, and now you are one in heaven,’ the 42-year-old continued. ‘I miss you. Happy heavenly 20th birthday Lai Lai.’
Tamera’s husband Adam Housley also shared a photo of Alaina with Aden and their daughter Ariah, now aged five.
RIP: ‘You were such an angel on this earth, and now you are one in heaven,’ the 42-year-old continued. ‘I miss you. Happy heavenly 20th birthday Lai Lai’ (pictured in 2019)
Missed: Tamera’s husband Adam Housley also shared a photo of Alaina with Aden and their daughter Ariah, now aged five. ‘Every minute. Every second. Every day. We miss you so. Happy birthday Alaina and keep protecting us up there. Always our angel’
He wrote: ‘Every minute. Every second. Every day. We miss you so. Happy birthday Alaina and keep protecting us up there. Always our angel.’
On the one year anniversary of the shooting, last year Tamera wrote ‘In her honor, we are fighting on her behalf through the @alainasvoicefoundation.’
‘We are asking for our leaders to start the discussion to create #CHANGE. Along with @napavalley1839fc we have had #ENOUGH. #alainasvoice.’
The Real co-host and actress helped establish the Alaina’s Voice Foundation non-profit group last year.
Fighting: The Real co-host and actress helped establish the Alaina’s Voice Foundation non-profit group last year to fight gun violence with education and mental health initiatives
Its mission is ‘to inspire hope and kindness in our communities through education, music, and mental health initiatives,’ it says on the website.
Her father Arik Housely added: ‘Alaina’s Voice Foundation was created not to immortalize her, as she will live forever in our hearts.
‘We created this foundation to make change in our society. We are broken, mental health in our country is in a downward spiral. What can a small act of kindness do on a daily basis to help one person.’
The website statement ends: ‘The foundation believes stopping one act of senseless violence in the future may not be measurable, but it is worth saving one more life and one more family the heartache.’