GONZALES - The mother of one of two men killed in a shooting in Gonzales is speaking out more than a week after her son's death.

21-year-old Jared Downey and 17-year-old Tegan Daigle both died at a scene on East Caldwell Street on Friday, Aug. 21. Lorena Rodriguez described her son, Jared, as kind, caring and loving.

"Jared was such a great person. He worked. He was an old soul. He had a routine in life. He loved his family," Rodriguez said.

Police charged two juveniles on Monday with principal to first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the case.

One day after the shooting, officers charged 17-year-old Joseph Appiah with first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy in connection with the double killing. Appiah also faces gun and drug-related charges.

"The police department did a great job," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said her son had planned to open his own mechanic shop and he was a soon-to-be father, with his first son's due date in October.

"Jared was so excited," Rodriguez said. "He said, 'I'm going to teach him everything about cars and we're going to build Legos.'"

Rodriguez said even if a criminal conviction happens in this case, the pain will never fully heal for her and her family.

"They stole their lives. They stole my son's life. They stole our life. That was my child," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez wants to use her pain to share Jared's story with young people to teach them about the consequences of gun violence.