The couple had been married for 24 years and had 4 children. She was one of the two teachers who died in the attack
Robb Elementary School, where the Texas massacre took place (REUTERS/Marco Bello)
Joe Garcia, the husband of fourth-grade teacher Irma Garcia, 47, who died in the Texas school shooting, died of a heart attack. He was also a teacher.
This is the victim number 22 of the massacre perpetrated by Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old who was shot by the police, in Uvalde, Texas.
Irma’s husband died Thursday, the couple’s nephew announced.
A GoFundMe page created by the family claims that Joe died as a result of “a broken heart.”
Irma and Joe García
“I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life for over 30 years was too much to bear,” Irma’s cousin Debra Austin wrote.
Survivors of the shooting recounted how Irma and her partner Eva Mireles, 44, both teachers, died protecting the children from the gunman’s bullets.
John Martínez, García’s nephew, told The Washington Post that officials told the family that she helped protect the students from being shot.
“I want her to be remembered as someone who sacrificed her life and risked her life for her children”< /b>, Martínez told the newspaper on Wednesday. “It wasn’t just her students. Those were her children, and she risked her life, lost her life to protect them. That’s the kind of person she was, ”she added.
A group of people prays for the victims of the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, U.S (REUTERS/Nuri Vallbona)
According to the Daily Mail, Garcia had taught at Robb Elementary for 23 years and was previously named “Teacher of the Year.”
In addition, she was among 19 San Antonio-area educators named finalists for Trinity University’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2019.
Garcia was teaching third grade at the time, majoring in social studies and ELAR, or English language arts and reading.
“I am so excited to start this new school year!”wrote on the school district’s website before the start of the year.
Tribute to the victims of the Texas massacre (REUTERS/Nuri Vallbona TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Ramos, who was 18 years old, had legally purchased two rifles in recent weeks: one on May 17 and the other on May 20. of May. One of the weapons appeared in Ramos’ car and the other was found next to his body. Furthermore, it is known that he had purchased 375 rounds of ammunition. It is still unknown how many weapons in total he had inside the school.
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