Joe Garcia died of “a broken heart” two days after his wife of 24 years, Irma Garcia, was killed in a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Garcia, 50, died of a heart attack Thursday after visiting his wife’s memorial, according to his nephew. Irma Garcia, 49, died protecting students from a teen gunman who opened fire on her fourth-grade classroom on Tuesday. The shooting killed 19 students and one teacher, making it the deadliest school shooting in the United States in a decade.
“i truly am at a loss for words for how we are all feeling, PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy,” the couple’s nephew, John Martinez, tweeted Thursday. He added later: “the pain doesn’t stop.”
The couple, who family members described as high school sweethearts, left four children, the youngest of whom was 12 years old.
Irma Garcia had been a teacher at Robb Elementary School for 23 years. According to the school district’s website, she enjoys listening to music, going on country cruises, and grilling with her husband. According to family members, Irma was an incredible cook, and she and Joe would frequently invite their extended family over for dinner.
