YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Nivea Ramos spent the past two years mourning the death of her daughter, Crystal Hernandez.

"There's an emptiness inside of me due to Crystal's death that will haunt me forever, every day for the rest of my life," Ramos said. 

Hernandez was shot and killed in a Youngstown apartment in January 2019 as she was holding her 2-year-old son cradled in her arms.

"Crystal's death has left me vulnerable and forever saddened that she will never realize her dreams and raise her baby who she loved and protected until her last breath," she said. 

County Judge Anthony Donofrio said her innocent life was cut short from the "terrible choices" made by a number of young men who were aiming to retaliate against Hernandez's boyfriend who was not in the apartment at the time of the shooting. The men are accused of firing over 50 rounds.

Charges include involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification and conspiracy. Five men were sentenced Friday ranging from 20-23 years in prison. 

21-year-old Maurice Redrick and 23-year-old Marquise Torres-Willis are sentenced to 23 years in prison. 24-year-old Johntez Scrivens and 21-year-old Burston Mcgee are sentenced to 20 years in prison. 20-year-old Marteze Daniels is sentenced to 7 years in prison for felonious assault with a firearm specification. 

Ramos said her grandson is in good hands and her daughter's memory lives on.

"He's growing. He's beautiful. It's been a long journey," she said, "I do feel that Crystal's getting her justice. Since day one... I'm very grateful for Mahoning County."

The men sentenced Friday were six of nine total people charged in connection to Crystal Hernandez's death.