A gas station employee messaged her family and friends to tell them she did not feel safe at work only an hour before she was killed.

23-year-old Tava Woodard started her night shift at Roadrunner Market in Tenn when she was hit by shoplifters.

She then sent a message to her mom and friends that she wanted to find another job as she felt unsafe.

Only an hour later, two men entered the store and demanded to all the money from the cash register.

Even though Woodard followed their demands, the culprits did not leave the store without killing her.

In an interview with PEOPLE, her grieving mother Melissa Jones, 45, said: “From what I’m hearing none of them [the staff] were feeling very safe – this is all over the place so I’ll go ahead and say it.

“All of her coworkers have stated that the panic button under the counter wasn’t working – and wasn’t even hooked up.”

The father and son, 41 and 18, have been arrested in connection with Woodard’s death and both were charged with first-degree murder.

“I won’t get into specifics, but the police have told me that she was very calm, very composed and that they were amazed at hearing how old she was and how well she maintained her composure and calmness,” Jones said.

Woodard had just celebrated her 23rd birthday only a week after she was killed.

The community in the Appalachian Mountains was quick to support the devastated family.

“I’ve gotten so many messages and phone calls from people that cared about her, that talk about how wonderful she was and what a bright light she was for them,” Jones added.

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