Police hunt killer of mother who died protecting her two children from gunshots

Chyemil Pierce was saving to move to a better neighbourhood

Chyemil Pierce, 30, was shot by a stray bullet as she tried to get her children up the stairs and back into their house

Police are hunting the killer of a mother who died protecting her two young children from gunfire.

Gunshots were exchanged between two rival gangs in a community in West Oakland, California, on Monday morning, KRON 4 reports.

Chyemil Pierce, 30, was shot by a stray bullet as she tried to get her children up the stairs and back into their house. Her children were not hurt.

Oakland police said two other people were shot during the confrontation. They are in a stable condition in hospital.

A friend told the network Ms Pierce was saving to move into a safer neighbourhood. “She loved her kids, she put her kids first. She sacrificed herself for her children's safety,” she said.

“When I saw her body it was laying right in front of her house. I never thought that is how I would see her for the last time. Chyemil, she was so pretty. She was just a beautiful person inside and out.”

Oakland police have not made any arrests over the shooting.

Lt. Roland Holmgren, of the Oakland Police Department, said the incident was connected to a vicious gang feud in the area.