She ran out the back door to save the children, but he followed—and shot her dead in the parking lot. **Nubia Bravo**, 26, gave her life to protect the little ones she cared for every day at **Neni’s Childcare #2** in **Donna, Texas**.Around **3 p.m. Tuesday**, Bravo’s estranged husband, **Saul Esquivel**, 41, forced his way into the daycare, confronting her in front of terrified staff and children.
Witnesses say Bravo immediately turned her focus to protecting the five kids inside, ushering them toward safety and trying to divert Esquivel’s attention away from them. As she fled through the back door, Esquivel followed her into the parking lot, where he shot her before turning the gun on himself.
When officers arrived, they found both Bravo and Esquivel lying beside each other. Bravo was pronounced dead at the scene; Esquivel later succumbed to his self-inflicted wound. The **Donna Police Department** confirmed that none of the children were physically injured and were quickly reunited with their families. Still, the emotional scars left by the violence are deep.
Investigators revealed that Bravo and Esquivel had been separated for several months and that there were indications of ongoing domestic issues. Loved ones described Bravo as **a loving mother, devoted caregiver, and selfless protector**—a woman who always put others before herself ve She died a hero,” said one parent whose child attends the daycare. “She didn’t think twice about her own safety. She just wanted the kids to live.”
Community members have since gathered outside Neni’s Childcare with flowers, balloons, and candles, honoring Bravo’s bravery and mourning the tragedy that has shaken their small town. Counselors have been made available for children, staff, and families as the community struggles to comprehend the heartbreaking loss of a young woman whose final act was one of pure love and sacrifice.
