LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As the community mourns the loss of two young brothers, after police say their own mother shot and killed them Wednesday, close family friends are keeping their memory alive.
"They were very smart, sweet, loving kids," Talia Crutcher, a family friend, said. "They didn't deserve that. They were heaven-sent, little boys."
Crutcher identified the brothers as Maurice, 6, and Jayden, 9, saying the two families met several years ago and saw each other as recent as Halloween weekend.
"[Lucas] had kids and I had kids and we instantly--our kids instantly fell in love with each other," Crutcher said. "They just played so good together."
Talia's son Jordan, described the two as "funny and nice." He said his favorite memories with the boys are when they'd play football together.
PHOTOS | Bullitt Co. community mourns loss of two young boys who were killed
Officers responded to the 200 block of Bentwood Drive, in Shepherdsville Wednesday morning, where they found the two suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both children were taken to Norton Children's Hospital, where they died from the injuries.
Appearing virtually before a Bullitt County judge Thursday, the boys' mother, 32-year-old Tiffanie Lucas, pleaded not guilty to the murder charges she now faces. The judge set her bond at $2 million because "the court is finding her to be a danger to others."
Lucas is due back in court next week.
"It's shocking; I don't think I can process it, I just can't believe it," Crutcher said. "It's shocking. It's unbelievable."
Crutcher said she wonders if there were potential warning signs she missed. She, like others who've spoken with WHAS11 over the last two days, said from the outside, Lucas appeared to be a dedicated, loving mother.
"I feel so bad for the boys because they still loved her, and they still adored her and looked up to her," Crutcher said.
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