4-year-old Madilynn “May May” Evans, and 2-year-old Maison “Mace Mace” Evans, died by gunshots Sunday evening, police said. (GoFundMe/Evans Family/Contributed Photo)

BULLARD — Over $24,000 has been raised as of Saturday night for the family of two children who were killed in what police are investigating as a homicide.

The community is coming together to support the father of 4-year-old Madilynn “May May” Evans and 2-year-old Maison “Mace Mace” Evans, who were tragically killed in a shooting Sunday night. The children were found dead in a Bullard home on Guinn Street alongside their mother, 25-year-old Tatyanna Smith, who also died from a gunshot, the Bullard Police Department said.

A GoFundMe online fundraiser was set up Monday to support Thomas Evans Sr., the father of Madilynn and Maison. His family set up the campaign and so far has received over 360 donations to cover more than half of the $30,000 goal.

Services were held Saturday at Beaty Funeral Home, 816 W Broadway St. in Winnsboro, with the burial at Sharon Cemetery at 4496 TX-37 in Winnsboro.

In addition to the $24,606 raised and counting on the GoFundMe, the funeral home also accepted donations on behalf of the family to help cover funeral expenses.

The family updated the online fundraiser description Wednesday with words of gratitude for the community’s support as they continue to grieve.

“… Thank you to everyone for the love and support you are giving to our family. This is the hardest thing we have ever had to deal with,” the note reads.

The family said they are in shock and were completely blindsided by the tragedy. All of their hearts are heavy as they prepare to bury their “two precious innocent children,” the fundraiser reads. The children’s father will miss work while dealing with the loss and planning his children’s funeral.

“Please, please pray for healing and strength for our entire family. May May and Mace Mace, you will always hold a special place in all our hearts,” the fundraiser reads. “You were treasured and loved more than you know. Our hearts are torn into a million pieces.”

The fundraiser is only for the Evans’ children. Those who would like to donate can visit https://tinyurl.com/supportevansfamily to contribute.

Smith’s other child, 8-month-old Lyric Minter, remains at a hospital in Dallas, Bullard Police Department Det. Judith Tuell said. Lyric was injured by a gunshot Sunday night. Smith and the two Evans children were found dead in the home that same night.

Bullard Police Department Chief Jeff Bragg said the baby’s condition is a day-by-day status. She is stable and alert, but was shot in the facial area and will likely require surgery once she is stable enough.

Bullard PD said the active homicide investigation remains ongoing. Full autopsy reports are pending.

“We know the community is frustrated with us not having all the answers right now,” Bragg said Thursday. “But we’re acting in the best interest of all those involved, for them to get the best service possible. This didn’t just impact one family; it impacted multiple families. I want the community to know that we’re all working hard.”

The Tyler Morning Telegraph will continue to follow up on the status of the investigation and report details as soon as they are made available. No arrests have been made in relation to the homicide, and the police department said there is no threat to the community.

The Bullard community has reacted with shock and sadness regarding the tragedy.

“It doesn’t make you feel comfortable with it happening right there, in your face,” a neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, said to CBS19 in an interview. “I’ve only ever seen crimes on TV, so having it right there is kind of just a dose of reality.”

The neighbor shared more about what she saw that night.

“I went out to get or drop the trash into our bin at some time after 7 p.m., and there was already six to seven police cars,” she told CBS19. “We knew it was bad when after about an hour or so, they packed up all the life saving measures, and we saw a medical examiner or a detective.”

As the investigation continues, residents in the area are still saddened to see such a tragedy unfold in their small community.

“It still scares us. I mean we know that it’s not, ‘it doesn’t happen here.’ That’s not true,” neighbor said. “People feel that way, but it’s not true. Either way, it sucks. It’s really heartbreaking.”