Friends and family gathered Sunday to celebrate Sky Moore’s second birthday.

There was cake with her mommy’s picture, balloons, juice, Cocomelon decorations and presents. A lot of presents.

But there was also sadness.

Just two days ago, 2-year-old Sky was in the arms of her mother, 36-year-old Justina Wallace, when police say another woman fired a fatal gunshot.

Not only was Sky in her mother’s arms, but two of Wallace’s sons were just feet away. Wallace was pregnant when she died, leaving behind a total of five children. Sky and her siblings were uninjured in the shooting.

The decision to go forward with Sky’s birthday party was a tough one, Wallace’s friends said, but they believe it was what Wallace would have wanted.

“It’s bittersweet,’’ said Angel Weatherspoon, who helped put together the party.

“Justina did everything big and we’re just trying to keep that going,’’ said another friend, Charkelia Parker. “We’re trying to keep them uplifted. It’s basically about the kids right now.”

The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. Friday in the 3200 block of 17th Avenue North. Wallace was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead on Saturday.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said the preliminary investigation revealed Wallace was involved in an argument with another woman – now identified as 21-year-old Aaniyah Nowden.

Both women had children fathered by the same man.

Photos and videos posted to social media showed Nowden – who friends say is also pregnant – pointing a gun at Wallace, who was seen in the images holding Sky.

Birmingham police on Sunday announced a capital murder charge against Nowden. The charge is capital because Wallace was killed in the presence of her children.

Nowden was taken into custody at Friday’s crime scene and held in the Birmingham City Jail until the formal warrant against her was obtained on Sunday. She was then booked into the Jefferson County Jail without bond at 5:41 p.m. Sunday, just 20 minutes before Sky’s birthday party began.

“It’s just mind-blowing. Everything happened so fast,’’ said Glamorus Mullen, a close friend of Wallace who is now taking care of her children. “I have yet to wrap my head around anything. It definitely doesn’t feel right.”

Mullen met Wallace two years ago and they quickly became close.

Wallace was from Florida but moved to Alabama attend Miles College and stayed.

Though she never finished college, she had just re-enrolled at Miles in the fall with plans to pursue a degree in business management. She wanted her own boutique.

“I just gravitated to her. She was a sweet girl,’’ Mullen said. “She was like my own sister.”

Mullen said the children are struggling with their mom’s death, even Sky as young as she is.

James Lockhart was also close to Wallace. “We talked on the phone every day all day,’’ he said. “I just wanted to talk to her all day.”

“She was outgoing. She was loud,’’ he said. “She was a good mother. She went above and beyond for her kids.”

“She was loved,’’ Lockhart said. “I hate this happened.”

Parker said Wallace was a loyal friend.

“To know her was to love her,’’ Parker said. “She was her own person. She didn’t follow the crowd. No matter what, she was always herself.”

“She was a great mom. She had it rough, but she did great as a mom,’’ Parker said. “Her kids, all of them loved her and she did a good job raising them.”

Parker said Wallace’s friends are still trying to absorb the shock of what happened to her.

“It’s indescribable, unbelievable,’’ she said. “It’s real shocking.”

Wallace’s friends said they’re concerned about the children – especially the three who witnessed the killing.

“I’m worried for their state of mind but she’s got good friends and with all of us together, they’re going to be OK,’’ she said. “We have to keep our smiles on for all of her kids. It’s just a sad situation.”