COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Alexa Stakely started her career at Capital Therapy Services in downtown Canal Winchester in 2018.

"It just doesn't feel real that we'll never see her again," speech pathologist at Capital Therapy Services, Michelle Wardell said.

They'll remember her as someone who went above and beyond for each of the kids she helped.

"She's just truly one of the best speech pathologist there is," Capital Therapy Services owner Pam Bender said.

The firm and the Canal Winchester community have a feeling of loss after Stakely lost her life last Thursday.

"I just think that remembering that somebody so young was gone too soon but really had a lot more to give wherever she worked helping children," said Wardell. "As a community we're in shock it's a tragedy, we don't have words. I think a lot of us try to talk with each other and just communicate to share that we all just feel this loss."

Police say she was trying to stop thieves from stealing her vehicle, with her six-year-old son still inside.

"All of us are moms and say we will die for our children, but luckily we're not in that situation," Wardell said, "Alexa did. She fought and died for her child."

"She did what any mother would do," Bender said.

Bender knew Stakely when she was a student at Ohio State. She helped convince Stakely to keep going after the career when Stakely had some initial doubts. Th e relationship grew from there.

"I called her sometimes my much younger sister," Bender said.

She knew Stakely had a determination to help others.

"She's one of those that you say they get knocked down and get back up again, that's Alexa," Bender said.

Police continue to investigate the deadly incident, and have released images of a group of people seen walking around different neighborhoods beforehand.