Crime Woman Found Dead Next to Car with Sleeping 23-Month-Old Inside Identified as 'Devoted' Pregnant Mom Alana Sims' mother tells PEOPLE the 22-year-old was "the best person you could be around" By Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez Twitter Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism. Before joining the team, she worked as an Editor at FanSided and provided work in the celebrity and lifestyle space for brands that include Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, EW, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 1, 2023 09:18 PM Share Tweet Pin Email A family has been left devastated after an expectant mother was found dead on the street of a residential neighborhood in Florida. Alana Sims' 23-month-old son was discovered asleep in the car next to her body. Alana was publically identified by her heartbroken loved ones Tuesday, who also revealed she was five months pregnant. "Alana was the best person you could be around. She wasn't around drama," Shahlevi Sims tells PEOPLE about her daughter, who was found dead by the Tampa Police Department outside her Ford EcoSport SUV with upper body trauma Monday night. "She stayed to herself you know just a real down-to-earth person," Shahlevi says. "She loved being around her nieces, she loved her son and her family." Alana's son was in his car seat in the back of the vehicle when the police arrived. The little boy, who turns 2 next month, was unharmed and is now being looked after by her family. Florida Mom of 22-Year-Old Diver Who Was Missing at Sea Says Finding Him 'Had to Be a Miracle' FaceBook While speaking with 10 Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Tampa PD spokesperson Crystal Clark said that Sim's death is believed to be a targeted attack. "I can tell you, when she was laying on the ground, it appeared she had been deceased for a bit of time," she added. Father of Unborn Child Arrested for Murder in Case of Still-Missing Pregnant Md. Woman According to the department's press release about Alana's death, the case remains under investigation by homicide detectives. Tampa PD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Alana Sims. gofundme A GoFundMe campaign created to help offset the costs of Alana's funeral has exceeded its $4000 goal. Alana is described in the GoFundMe as "a devoted mother who has a son who she loved very much." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to call the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130 or share a tip through TIP411, accessible through the TampaPD app.