Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, one of the teachers killed in this week’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, has tragically died from a heart attack, family members confirmed to The New York Times. Joe, who had been preparing for his wife’s funeral, collapsed and passed away on Thursday, leaving behind four children.
Irma Garcia, 46, was one of two teachers fatally shot during the attack, which also claimed the lives of 19 children. Authorities said Irma and her co-teacher, Eva Mireles, died heroically, trying to shield their students from the gunman.
In a heart-wrenching post on Twitter, Joe’s nephew, John Martinez, expressed the family’s profound grief, writing, “Extremely heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief.” He added, “God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy,” as he asked for prayers for the grieving family.
Joe Garcia reportedly died after returning home from delivering flowers to a memorial for his late wife, highlighting the overwhelming sorrow the family is enduring after this tragedy.