EL PASO, Texas -- Family members in El Paso are mourning the loss of Maj. Librado Eduardo Caraveo, 52, one of 13 people killed in the shooting at Fort Hood.

Caraveo grew up in El Paso, graduating from Bowie High School and earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees from UTEP.

Isabel Zuniga, Caraveo's niece, said the family knows few details about the moments leading up to his death at Fort Hood. But she said they were told he was killed while trying to stop the shooter.

"He was a big light in our family," said Zuniga. "He was always positive and happy. Now it's like you can't believe that light is gone."

The youngest of seven brothers and sisters, Caraveo was born in Juarez and grew up in El Paso.

"He was always laughing," said Zuniga. "He was always singing. He was always joking around."

But a serious student, Caraveo became the first in his family to graduate from college, inspiring future generations to do the same.

"He had a doctorate," said Zuniga. "He was the pride and joy of our family."

Zuniga said ten years ago, Caraveo joined the Army reserves, claiming that even in his 40s, he still had work to do in his life.

In the past week, he was preparing for a second deployment, stopping at Fort Hood for final clearance before heading overseas to Afghanistan. Zuniga said he arrived at Fort Hood the day before the shooting.

"I turned on the news, and I called my aunt right away," said Zuniga. "I said, 'did you see what's on the news?' She said, 'yeah, I'm trying to get through to him. He won't answer.'"

Zuniga received a call from her aunt at 3 a.m. Friday and learned her uncle was one of 13 people killed in the massacre.

"How could something like this happen to someone who had so much to offer in this world and offered it on a daily basis?" said Zuniga.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is accused of opening fire at Fort Hood, wounding 38 people and killing Caraveo and 12 others.

"We just want to know why? Why would he want to do something of that nature to his fellow countrymen, to people in the same position as he was, going to be deployed, leaving behind families and their lives, not knowing if they were coming back? Just why? Why would he do something so horrible and hurtful?" asked Zuniga.

Now her only comfort lies in the legacy Caraveo leaves for his children.

"We're proud of him," said Zuniga. "Not only because of what he did throughout his life, but also because he kept true to himself even in the face of death. He didn't run away. He still tried to save other people and selflessly didn't care what would happen to him."

Caraveo leaves behind a wife and three sons, including a two-year-old.

Zuniga said he was always proud of being from El Paso, but was living in Washington, D.C., before his death.

Caraveo will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary.