'Broken heart' | 

Husband of hero teacher killed in Texas school shooting dies of heart attack

Less than two days after Irma’s death, her husband Joe Garcia passed away due to a heart attack, ABC News reported. The couple leave behind four teenage children.

Irma and Joe Garcia

Eoghan Moloney

The husband of a teacher who died protecting the children in her class during the Uvalde school shooting in Texas has died of a heart attack.

Irma Garcia was one of 21 people, including 19 children and two teachers, shot dead in Robb Elementary School on Tuesday night.

Less than two days after Irma’s death, her husband Joe Garcia passed away due to a heart attack, ABC News reported. The couple leave behind four teenage children.

Irma’s cousin, Debra Austin, said she believes “Joe died of a broken heart as losing the love of his life of more than 30 years was too much to bear."

Teacher Irma Garcia, one of the victims of the mass shooting Robb Elementary School in Uvalde

A GoFundMe account set up by Debra for the couple’s children has raised over $55,000 in less than 24 hours.

Debra said Irma was a teacher that “loved her classroom kids and died trying to protect them”.

“Irma was a wife, a mother of four, 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.

“I am equally devastated to report Irma's husband Joe has tragically passed away this morning 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 30 years was too much to bear,” Debra said.


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