NBC News also reported the death of Joe Garcia, citing Martinez and a son, Christian Garcia.
“EXTREMELY heartbreaking and I come with deep sorrow to say that my Aunt Irma’s husband, Joe Garcia, has died of grief, I’m really speechless to know how we all feel,” Martinez wrote on his Twitter account. using the Spanish word for “aunt” and asking for family prayers.
Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia were shot dead during the Robb Elementary massacre in Uvalde, Texas, this week.
“God have mercy on us, this is not easy.”
For Irma Garcia and Mireles, teaching fourth graders at Robb Elementary was one of the joys of their lives, a vocation dedicated to educating children and keeping them safe.
Garcia, 46, who taught Robb Elementary for 23 years, was a “sweet, kind and loving” teacher who considered her students to be a family, help their relatives.
“He died with children in his arms trying to protect them,” Martinez wrote on Twitter. “These were not only his students, they were also his children.”
Martinez told The Detroit Free Press that the family was struggling to understand that while Garcia’s son was training for combat, it was his mother who was shot dead.
“Things like this shouldn’t happen in schools,” he told the newspaper. “It’s bad. It’s not good.”
Mireles’ daughter paid tribute to her mother on Wednesday, which was to be almost the last day of the school year.
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“I don’t know how to live this life without you, but I’ll take care of my father. I will take care of our dogs and say your name forever so that you will always be remembered, Eva Mireles, a 4th grade teacher at Robb Elementary who selflessly jumped in front of her students to save their lives, “wrote Adalynn Ruiz on Facebook .
Garcia was named “Teacher of the Year” at the school to which she devoted her entire career. In 2019, she was one of 19 educators in the San Antonio area nominated as finalists for the Trinity University Teaching Excellence Award. At that time, he taught third grade primary school, specializing in Social Sciences and ELAR, or English Language Arts and Reading.
“I’m really excited to start this new school year!” Garcia wrote in a note on the school district’s website before starting this academic year.
She offered students an insight into her personal life and passions, saying she loved having barbecues with her husband. She was the proud mother of four: her eldest son was in the military training camp and her second son at Texas State University. He also had two younger daughters.
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A Facebook photo showed her husband and son holding a heart-shaped sign that reads “Proud Bobcat Family,” a look at the Texas state football team.
Reuters, AP
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