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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
Michelle Cullen

Husband of heroic teacher killed in Texas shooting dies of heart attack 'due to grief' leaving behind four children

The husband of a heroic teacher killed in a mass school shooting in Texas on Tuesday has died.

A relative of the family confirmed on Thursday that Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, a fourth grade teacher who was one of two adults killed after an 18-year-old gunman stormed the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, and killed 19 children, died two days after the shooting due to a "medical emergency".

He is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack "brought on by grief."

Read More: Mum of teen Texas school shooter 'surprised' and says he 'wasnt a violent person' after 19 kids and two teachers massacred

The couple leaves behind four children, relatives said.

Irma and Joe Garcia (GoFundMe)

On a GoFundMe page set up for Mrs Garcia, her cousin wrote: "Hi, my name is Debra Austin, Irma Garcia was my cousin and one of the teachers killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas(5/24/2022).

"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. Please donate anything you can to help her family. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Garcia family for various expenses. Thank you and God bless."

In an update to the page on Thursday, Debra added: "I am equally devasted to report Irma's husband Joe has tragically passed away this morning(5/26/2022) as a result of a medical emergency.

"Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

"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."

The Garcia's nephew also wrote on Twitter Joe had "passed away due to grief."

On Facebook, Irma's sister Marissa Lozano mourned her as a "HERO."

She said: "My beautiful sister. I want to wake up from this nightmare.

"I love you.. I miss you… I'm broken.."

Tuesday's massacre marked the worst elementary school shooting since the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, which left 20 children and six adults dead.

Law enforcement officials have said the shooter was in a classroom at the school for upwards of an hour, but have not fully explained how the gunman entered the building or how police responded.

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