Joe Garcia dies from heart attack while grieving loss of his teacher wife Irma Garcia who was killed in Texas shooting
THE HUSBAND of slain fourth-grade teacher Irma Garcia, who died in the Texas school shooting, has passed away from a heart attack two days after his wife's tragic death.
Irma's husband, Joe Garcia, 50, died on Thursday morning, the pair's nephew announced.
In a shared online by the duos family, cousin Debra Garcia Austin wrote that Joe passed away on Thursday morning “as a result of a medical emergency.”
More on Robb Elementary
“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,” Austin wrote.
Joe and Irma were high school sweethearts and were married for 24 years.
Martinez said that the couple leaves behind four children, ages 23, 19, and 15, and the youngest, 13.
"No child should have to go through this, my heart breaks for them," the nephew wrote.
Teachers Irma and Eva Mireles were among 21 people killed during Tuesday's massacre after suspected gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, barricaded himself inside their fourth-grade classroom and opened fire.
Nineteen students perished in the shooting at Robb Elementary. An additional 17 were injured.
'PUT HER LIFE ON THE LINE'
When the authorities went inside the classroom moments after the shooting, Martinez said they had “found her body there, embracing children in her arms pretty much until her last breath.”
"She had treated her students as if they were her own children, Martinez, 21, told the Times.
In a follow-up post, he wrote: "I shot my grandmother," according to Abbott.
The Republican governor said Ramos gained access to the school via a backdoor to an empty classroom.
Olivarez said the Ramos barricaded himself inside the classroom, “shooting anyone that was in his way."
As the suspect shot at responding police officers, authorities were going around the campus, breaking windows and trying to evacuate children and staff.
They were then able to force entry into the classroom where the shooter was.
VICTIMS NAMED
So far, 18 of the 19 kids have been identified by loved ones - they are students Amerie Jo Garza, Xavier Lopez, Uziyah Garcia, Makenna Lee Elrod, Ellie Garcia, Eliahana 'Elijah Cruz' Torres, Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, Tess Marie Mata, Lexi Rubio, Nevaeh Bravo, Rojelio Torres, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, Jailah Nicole Silguero, Miranda Mathis, Jose Flores, Maite Yuleana, Jackie Cazares, and Alithia Ramirez.
Amerie was shot dead as she tried to call 911 and her best friend was reportedly left covered in blood.
Arreola said: “She had her phone, and she called 911, and instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her.”
She added Amerie died a hero because she tried to call the emergency services.
Amerie had just received an award for getting on the A-B honor roll.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More On The Sun
The shooting became the worst elementary school massacre since Sandy Hook in 2012.
It surpassed the number of dead in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, which left 17 teens dead and 17 others injured on Valentine's Day in 2018.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at