Law Enforcement
Husband of teacher killed in Texas massacre dies of heart attack
Joe and Irma Garcia, victim of the massacre at the Uvalde Elementary School, had been married for 24 years and had four children
May 26, 2022 5:14pm
Updated: May 26, 2022 5:50pm
Joe Garcia, husband of Irma Garcia, one of the two teachers killed Tuesday during the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas, died of a heart attack, his nephew John Martinez said Thursday on Twitter.
“EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief, 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,” he wrote.
EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief, 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 pic.twitter.com/GlUSOutRVV
— john martinez ❤️🔥 (@fuhknjo) May 26, 2022
Matthew Seedorff, a reporter for Houston's Fox 26, said he spoke with Joe's family and confirmed that he died of a heart attack.
"Family members tell me that Joe Garcia, the husband of Uvalde teacher Irma Garcia, just died of a heart attack," Seedorff tweeted. "The couple had been married for 24 years and have 4 children."
BREAKING: Family members tell me Joe Garcia, the husband of Uvalde teacher Irma Garcia, just died of a heart attack. The couple had been married 24 years and has 4 children. Irma was shot and killed Tuesday trying to protect her 4th grade class. #breaking #Uvalde pic.twitter.com/X9CrD3ppXS
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) May 26, 2022
Debra Austin, Irma Garcia's cousin, created a GoFundMe with the goal of helping the entire family with various expenses following the murder.
She would literally do anything for anybody... no questions asked. She loved her classroom kids and died trying to protect them. Please donate anything you can to help her family. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Garcia family for various expenses. Thank you and God bless,” the page reads.
“Joe has tragically passed away this morning (5/26/2022) as a result of a medical emergency,” the page continues. “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life of more than 25 years was too much to bear.”
Irma Garcia was a 2019 finalist, along with 18 other San Antonio-area teachers, for Trinity University's Excellence in Teaching Award, El Mundo reported.
Eva Mireles was the second teacher killed by Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old perpetrator of the shooting at the first school.
Family, friends and neighbors of the town of Uvalde gathered on Wednesday night to hold a vigil for the victims.
