Tamera Mowry remembers late niece on son Aden's birthday

Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Tamera Mowry was thinking of her late niece on son Aden's birthday.

The 40-year-old actress paid tribute to Alaina Housley, her 18-year-old niece who died in the Thousand Oaks shooting last week, on Aden's 6th birthday Monday.

Mowry shared a photo on Instagram of Aden with his late cousin. The picture shows Alaina smiling for the camera as she holds a bouquet of roses.

"Happy 6th birthday Aden! Alaina was excited to come to your birthday party. But as you said buddy, 'She lives in your heart now.' We love you," Mowry captioned the post.

Alaina was one of 12 people killed when Ian David Long, 28, opened fire Wednesday at the Borderline Bar and Grill. Mowry and her husband, Adam Housley, confirmed Alaina's death in a statement Thursday.

"Our hearts are broken," the pair said. "Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner."

Mowry also paid tribute to Alaina in an Instagram post the same day.

"Alaina. My sweet, sweet Alaina. My heart breaks. I'm still in disbelief. It's not fair how you were taken and how soon you were taken from us," the star wrote.

"I love you. I love you. I love you. You are gonna make one gorgeous angel," she added. "My heart and prayers are with every victim of this tragedy."

Mowry is parent to Aden and 3-year-old daughter Ariah with Housley. She and her twin sister, Tia Mowry, came to fame on the ABC/The WB series Sister, Sister.