Joe Garcia, whose wife was killed by a gunman in the Uvalde school shooting, has reportedly died of a heart attack.
His wife Irma Garcia was one of the 21 victims a mass shooting in Robb Elementary. According to family members, the Garcias were high school sweethearts and had been married for 24 years. On Twitter, the Garcias’ nephew John Martinez said his uncle had “passed away due to grief.”
“I truly am at a loss for words for how we are all feeling,” Martinez posted. “PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy.”
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
Irma’s cousin Debra Austin has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the family. “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life of more than 30 years was too much to bear,” she wrote on the page.
The couple had four children, ages 13, 15, 19 and 23. “No child should have to go through this,” Martinez added. “My heart breaks for them.”
According to the couple’s oldest son Christian, the police believe his mother died attempting to shield her students.