'Sister, Sister' star loses her niece in Thousand Oaks shooting

Tamera Mowry-Housley, star of "The Real" and "Sister, Sister," lost her beloved niece when a former US Marine opened fire at a California bar this week.

Alaina Housley's senseless murder has rocked her family to the core, including her aunt by marriage, Tamera Mowry-Housley, best known as one half of a set of twins in the sitcom "Sister, Sister."

"I'm still in disbelief. It’s not fair how you were taken…You are gonna make one gorgeous angel."

18-year-old Alaina, a freshman at Pepperdine University, had been out with friends at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks when a gunman opened fire indiscriminately killing 12 people.

Read more on our Twitter account @amomama_usa.

Mowry-Housley had reported Alaina missing after her suitemate had confirmed she had gone to the bar with a handful of other students for College Night.

Alaina's iPhone and Apple watch had pinged her location as the bar, and when her family could not find her at the Los Robles Regional Medical Center with survivors, they had begun to fear the worst.

Alaina was the daughter of Arik Housley, brother of former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, Tamera's husband, who was also her godfather. He released a statement on behalf of the family that read:

"We want to honor Alaina by focusing on how she lived her life. She would have enjoyed the public debate that is certain to happen after this tragedy. But she would have insisted that it be respectful with an eye toward solving these senseless shootings."

Housley was an honors student at Vintage High School, played varsity soccer, and served in student government for four years before her graduation.

She was remembered by her school principal Sarah O'Connor as a "natural leader and connector" and loved by her peers and the school staff.

Mowry-Housley's twin sister, Tia Mowry, also posted a grief-stricken message to Twitter and it is plain to see how Alaina's entire family and extended family and friends have been shaken by her loss.

Twitter comments on her posts are an endless tribute to her gentle soul:

"Rest easy you beautiful soul. I miss you endlessly already"

"Rest in peace baby I'm so sorry ur life had to end so suddenly"

The gunman, identified as 28-year-old Ian David Long, a former US Marine who, it is speculated, may have been suffering from PTSD.

He showed up at the bar reportedly armed with a 45-caliber Glock 21 handgun, legally purchased in Simi Valley, and a 'smoke device.'

While condolences keep pouring in for this young girl and her family, the debate about gun control continues. When will the unnecessary casualties end? When will America be great again?