Joe Garcia, husband of Irma Garcia, one of the teachers killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, died suddenly of a heart attack, according to news reports.
Relatives told KHOU 11 News that they believed Joe died of a broken heart, explaining that he was a family man who loved barbecuing and listening to music with Irma.
The couple was high school sweethearts, married for 24-year, and left behind four children: Cristian, 23; Jose, 19; Lyliana, 16; and Alysandra, 12.
A video posted on Twitter shows Garcia on Thursday morning, taking roses to his wife’s memorial in front of the school. Reportedly, he died a short time later.
Joe Garcia visited his wife's memorial this morning to place flowers on a cross with her name on it. Joe is the husband to Irma Garcia. Not long after Joe visited Irma's memorial, he suffered a heart attack and died.
READ MORE: https://t.co/y8ccPq9pjZ pic.twitter.com/SfFKgChzbx
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) May 26, 2022
Garcia’s nephew posted 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.”
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
“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,” Debra Austin, Irma’s cousin, posted on a GoFundMe page dedicated to Garcia’s children.
Austin also wrote, “Irma was a wife, a mother of 4, a cousin, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and a wonderful person. She would literally do anything for anybody……no questions asked. She loved her classroom kids and died trying to protect them.” Irma was holding a student in her arms, who also was murdered in the shooting.
