Edinburg, TX (KRGV) — A 21-year-old woman is being hailed a hero after Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala said she risked her life to save an officer.

The woman, identified as Clarissa Rodriguez, is the sister of the man police said shot Edinburg Police Officer Salvador Garcia as he responded to a report of a domestic disturbance Thursday morning, Ayala said.

The shooter, 25-year-old Daby Tadeo Ledezma, was later found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Ayala said.

READ MORE: Gunman dead, officer hospitalized in stable condition following Edinburg shooting

Garcia responded to the domestic disturbance in the 200 block of Fig Street after a woman reported that her brother was "acting erratically" in their apartment.

When he arrived at the residence and knocked on the door, Ayala said the door opened, and Garcia was struck multiple times and collapsed.

That’s when Rodriguez ran straight into the line of fire without hesitating to Garcia’s side and help place a tourniquet on his leg, Ayala said.

“A truly extraordinary act of bravery,” Ayala said at the press conference. “Even as officer Garcia repeatedly pleaded with her to get to safety, she refused to leave his side. Instead, she looked at him and said she was not going to let him die there.”

Ayala said Rodriguez, a UTRGV mechanical engineering student, also told Garcia she wouldn’t leave him because the suspect would “not shoot her.”

“She completely disregarded her own safety to save the life of an officer; no doubt her swift, selfless actions aided in the life-saving difference of officer Garcia. We can never thank her enough,” Ayala said.

Ayala said that when asked if she had anything to share about the shooting, Rodriguez said, “He didn’t deserve that. I didn’t want to watch an innocent life suffer.”

Garcia remains hospitalized and is now in stable condition, Ayala said, adding that he’s deeply relieved and grateful over Garcia’s condition.

At the press conference, Ayala thanked the other "courageous" Edinburg police officers at the scene who helped get Garcia to safety and the Texas Department of Public Safety and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these officers, their training and valor,” Ayala said. “These men and women every day go out not knowing what today will bring, and yesterday was one of those days that was not a good day.”