One victim of Bastrop shooting saved daughter's life

The family of one victim from this weekend's shooting in Bastrop tells FOX 7 they are devastated by their loss. A small memorial has been set up in front of the apartment complex where it happened.

Paula Nino lost her life by saving her daughter's. It was a sad day for her family, they spent it at the apartment complex and then at the cemetery to start making funeral arrangements.

Photo after photo shows the love that Paula Nino had for her family. Her sister shared these touching photos with FOX 7. It was a life cut too short at 20 years old. A neighbor, who wants to keep her identity hidden, tells us what happened.

"We were all sitting at the pool and all of a sudden we heard gunfire. Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow. Then my friend came running from around the apartment and said, 'there are dead bodies on the ground!'" says witness.

It was Saturday when a shooting broke out at Arbors of Bastrop Apartments. Bastrop authorities found four individuals dead: 20-year-old Paula Nino, 21-year-old Erica Rodriguez, a three-year-old boy and 20-year-old Alejandro Martinez. It was a tragic scene.

"Then we walked around and saw the dead bodies on the ground, with a lady laying face down and another lady was holding a baby. She was trying to shield the baby and apparently the baby got shot too and then the guy shot himself," says witness.

On a GoFundMe page set up for the family, it says Paula lost her life while protecting her daughter from harm. The family believes that is the only reason the little girl is here today. In one day nearly $2,800 has been raised for funeral expenses.

The investigation is still ongoing and while authorities try to figure out what led to the shooting, neighbors are still on edge.

"We are all just so traumatized to see that. Those people laying on the ground like that had been shot. It's just a tragedy. It hit hard because you never know, you're here today and then you're gone today. It just hit hard to see that happen," says witness.

The shooting is being investigated by the Bastrop Police Department, Bastrop County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Rangers.