The husband of a woman killed in the Uvalde shooting has died of a heart attack two days after the attack.
Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, 46, one of two faculty members who was killed by an 18-year-old gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, died of a heart attack. heart just two days after losing his wife.
A relative confirmed his death in a tweet, saying he “died of grief.” The couple had been together since high school and had four children, according to the Dallas News.
“I’m really speechless about how we feel,” tweeted John Martinez, Irma Garcia’s nephew. “PRICE FOR OUR FAMILY. God have mercy on us, this is not easy.
Mrs. Garcia had been working at Robb Elementary School for 23 years when she was murdered and considered a consummate educator. In 2019, she was named a finalist for the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching, which Trinity University awards to outstanding professors in the San Antonio area.
“I have my eldest son completing Marine training camp and another son Jose attending Texas State University,” Ms. Garcia wrote on her teacher’s page on the school’s website. . “My eldest daughter Lyliana will be a high school sophomore and my little Alysandra will be a 7th grader this year.”
She and Mr. Garcia had been married for 24 years.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Mrs Garcia’s family and their funeral expenses. It is described as “sweet, kind, [and] loving ”. His site has raised more than $ 170,000 since its inception.
“He sacrificed himself by protecting children in his classroom,” says the GoFundMe page. “She was a hero. She was loved by many and we will really miss her.”
Eva Mireles, 44, another teacher, also died Tuesday.
Ms. Mireles’ husband is a school district police officer.
Her cousin and grandmother mourned her loss on social media.
“My beautiful cousin! Such a devastating day for all of us! My heart is broken into a million pieces, “said Arizmendi Mireles.
Ms. Mireles was a special educator who worked with English and Spanish speaking students. She had been an educator for 17 years when she was murdered. He taught mainly to fourth graders at the school.
On the school’s website, she described herself as the mother of a college graduate and said she loved running and hiking with her “fun and loving” family.