The husband of fourth-grade teacher Irma Garcia, who was killed in the Texas school shooting, died of a heart attack two days after his wife’s death.
Joe Garcia, Irma’s 50-year-old husband, died on Thursday morning, according to the couple’s nephew.
“Extremely heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief,” John Martinez said.
“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.”
Joe had gone to his wife’s memorial on Thursday morning to drop off flowers, and when he returned home, he “pretty much just fell over,” Martinez told the New York Times.
Joe Garcia Austin died on Thursday morning as a consequence of a medical emergency, according to a GoFundMe page set up by the couple’s family.
Joe and Irma had been together since high school and had been married for 24 years.
Martinez said the couple has four children, ages 23, 19, 15, and the youngest of whom is 13.
Irma and Eva Mireles, fourth-grade teachers, were among the 21 persons slain when alleged shooter Salvador Ramos, 18, locked himself inside their classroom and began fire.
The shooting at Robb Elementary resulted in the deaths of 19 kids. A further 17 people were hurt.
Martinez claimed that when officials entered the classroom shortly after the shooting, they discovered her body there, hugging children in her arms until her final breath.
It was simple for loved ones to see the 21-year-old putting her life on the line, she added.
Martinez described Irma as a second mother to her nieces and classmates.
