Sheriff's Office: Day care employee followed safety protocols in Donna murder-suicide

A female employee at the Donna day care where a deadly shooting took place on Wednesday followed safety protocols and may have prevented further harm, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Investigators determined the employee swiftly secured all five children during the shooting.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘This is a result of domestic violence’: Husband, wife found dead at Donna day care

No children were harmed when 41-year-old Saul Esquivel forced his way through a window into Neni's Childcare #2 and chased his wife, 26-year-old Nubia Bravo, outside the building as he continuously shot at her.

“She got outside, and then he followed her, caught up to her and then shot her,” Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra said in a press conference Wednesday. “Then we believed that he laid next to his wife, and then he took his life. This is a result of domestic violence.”

Investigators say the couple was separated, but believe Esquivel was caught having an affair.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office Victim Services Unit continues to reach out to everyone affected by the murder-suicide.

“Today is National Domestic Violence Awareness Day and our priority remains supporting the victims, their families, and everyone in the community who was affected by this tragedy,” Guerra said. “No one should face this kind of trauma alone, and our team is here to help.”

The shooting remains under investigation by the county's Major Crimes Unit.

The sheriff's office encourages anyone experiencing domestic violence to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Victims Services Unit at (956)383-8114 or email at VSU@hidalgoso.org. 

A list of non-profit service organizations that offer low-cost mental health and domestic violence resources in the Rio Grande Valley can be found here.