Husband of slain Uvalde teacher dies suddenly after memorial service: report
Joe Garcia, the husband of slain Robb Elementary School teacher Irma Garcia, died suddenly on Thursday after he returned home from his late wife's memorial service.
His death was announced on Twitter by John Martinez, the 21-year-old nephew of the couple who had been married for 24 years.
"EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief," he wrote. "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."
\u201cEXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma\u2019s 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\u2019t easy\u201d— john martinez \u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udd25 (@john martinez \u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udd25) 1653584435
Garcia, 50, suffered a "medical emergency," according to NBC5 in Dallas/Fort Worth.
"When he got home, he was at home for no more than three minutes after sitting down on a chair with the family. He just fell over. They tried doing chest compressions and nothing worked. The ambulance came and they couldn’t, they couldn’t bring them back," Martinez told the local outlet. “I don’t even know how to feel. I don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it."
NBC5 noted that Ms. Garcia taught at Robb for 23 years and lost her life "shielding her students from gunfire" during the assault that killed 19 students and two teachers and injured 17 others, including multiple members of law enforcement.
The extended family has established a GoFundMe campaign for the four surviving Garcia children. More than $430,000 has been raised by almost 11,000 donors in less than 24 hours.
\u201ci\u2019m already being asked if there\u2019s a gofund me and yes there is, Irma\u2019s cousin set this up, even just a retweet would help https://t.co/9eSn3AaVfU\u201d— john martinez \u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udd25 (@john martinez \u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udd25) 1653584435
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