The husband of one of the teachers killed in the Texas school shooting has died suddenly after visiting his memorial.
The Rushing-Estes-Knowles Funeral Home confirmed the death of Joe Garcia, Irma Garcia’s husband, one of 21 people shot dead at Robb d’Uvalde Elementary School on Tuesday.
The couple were married for 24 years and were loved in high school. Garcia is reported to have died of a heart attack.
Joe and Irma Garcia were beloved in high school. They had four children together. (Supplied) Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles taught classes together. Both were killed Tuesday. (Supplied)
Garcia went to visit his wife’s memorial to leave flowers on Thursday.
He collapsed minutes after returning home, said one of his nephews.
“Extremely heartbreaking and I come with deep sorrow to say that my Aunt Irma’s husband, Joe Garcia, has died from the pain,” John Martinez wrote on Twitter.
“I’m really speechless about how we all feel, pray for our family.
“God have mercy on us, this is not easy.”
The couple shared four children together.
Irma Garcia, 48, had been teaching for 23 years, her obituary said.
He has taught with Eva Mireles, 44 years old.
Both were killed by gunman Salvador Ramos, who massacred 19 children after he was strangled in a classroom.
Some of the children killed in the Texas shooting. (9News) Crosses with the names of the victims of the shooting placed outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (AP)
The 18-year-old spent more than an hour in primary school before being shot dead, police said today.
Garcia is believed to have sacrificed himself to protect his students.
A friend of law enforcement said his son Garcia was seen protecting students at the time of the crash, NBC reports.
– He reported to the Associated Press