ST. LOUIS — For thousands across St. Louis, a serious headshot of 24-year-old Katlyn Alix is all they've been seeing.
But her longtime friend said one photo is only a glimpse at who she really was.
"If anybody ever knew her, everybody's going to say they remember her smiling because I don't think there's ever been a day when she didn't have a huge smile on her face."
Hannah Tina said she spent some of the toughest times in her life with Alix by her side.
"When I met her, I was 21 and she was 18 and I looked up to her."
The two attended Army basic training together in 2012. Hannah sent 5 On Your Side pictures of her friend in the uniform she wore so proudly.
"She had a good attitude about everything, and some days were harder than others but somehow she was still able to make the whole experience fun, and I don't know if I'd ever use fun as a way to describe basic training."
After basic training, Alix brought her talents to St. Louis where she would protect and serve for two years.
"When she went into the police academy it was no shock to any of us. We all knew that's what she wanted to do, and we just told her be careful and follow your dreams and she did."
That dream was cut short Thursday around 1 a.m.
Police said Alix was shot and killed by another officer at a home on Dover Street in south city.
She was off-duty at the time.
"When I first found out it was a post that somebody had posted, and they hadn't released her name yet and we were all like pretty sure that it’s her."
Police said two other officers were home at the time. One of them mishandled a gun, shooting Alix in the chest.
"We just really want answers as to why or how it happened. I get accidents happen but how does that accident happen."