Two years ago today, a Birmingham mother left home to grab a quick drink with a friend.

It was a Sunday night, and she wasn’t planning to stay out long – she even left dinner cooking on the stove.

But 43-year-old Yalunda Watts-Young never made it back to her family. She was fatally gunned down when she and a man she had dated left an establishment in the 600 block of Ninth Street North.

No one has been charged in her slaying, and the family is pleading that anyone with information come forward.

“People were there, and nobody is saying anything,’’ said Sonja Watts, Young’s sister. “It has been a nightmare.”

Watts-Young left behind three children, including Wenonah High School quarterback Anthony Young. They are all searching for answers and hoping for an arrest.

“These kids lost their dad when they were little from cancer and they lost their mom,’’ Watts said.

“It would definitely take a weight off not only my heart, but the kids’ hearts,’’ she said. “It would alleviate some anger, some pain.”

The shooting happened just after 10:30 p.m. Feb. 20, 2022.

Birmingham police responded to scene on a report of two people shot. When they arrived, they found Watts-Young and a man on the ground, both wounded by gunfire.

The victims were taken to UAB Hospital, where Young was later pronounced dead.

Young had been shot multiple times, including a bullet wound to the head. The man was shot in the shoulder and survived.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said one of the victims was targeted; however, a motive has not been established.

Watts said her sister’s oldest child graduated high school right after her mother’s death. She has been raising the sons for the past two years.

Two days before Watts-Young’s death, Watts fell ill at work – she is an elementary school teacher.

Watts was taken to the emergency room, and Watts-Young met her there.

Though they had been communicating through text messaging, “That was the first time I’d seen her all week,’’ Watts said.

Watts said she felt her sister knew something was going to happen.

“She started giving me spiritual messages,’’ she said. “She was very calm, but she looked scared. She just had a look of ‘This is it.’’’

“I could see fear all over her face,’’ Watts said.

Two days later, Watts got the dreaded call that her sister had been shot.

“It was just crazy,’’ she said.

At the time of her death, Watts-Young worked for Alabama Power and was also a notary.

Not only was she working and raising her children, but she was also the primary caretaker of her mother, who had never recovered from a previous brain injury.

“She was a take-charge kind of person,’’ Watts said. “She was the most organized.”

“In school she was the smartest, the most outgoing,’’ she said. “She had a strong worth ethic.”

“She was the lively sister, always having events at her house,’’ she said.

Watts said she will continue to fight for justice.

Friends and family will hold a prayer vigil and a balloon release at 5:30 p.m. today in the 600 block of Ninth Street North.

“I can’t just sit back and do nothing,’’ she said. “I’m trying to get my niece and nephews some peace.”

“As long as they don’t have peace about their mother,” she said, “it makes it hard to guide them.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $5,000 and tipsters can remain anonymous.