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Husband of teacher killed in Uvalde shooting dies of heart attack, family says

His family said they believe he died from a "broken heart"

Published: May 26, 2022 6:33pm

Updated: May 26, 2022 7:26pm

Two days after teacher Irma Garcia was killed in the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting, her husband Joe Garcia passed away from a heart attack, leaving four children orphaned, according to their family.

The two were described as high school sweethearts who had been married for 24 years before Irma died Tuesday while reportedly attempting to protect her students at Robb Elementary School.

Joe died two days later "due to grief," according to John Martinez, who identified himself as Irma's nephew on Twitter.

Martinez said he is "truly at a loss for words" about the situation.

A GoFundMe set up for the family has raised more than $530,000 so far.

"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," Irma's cousin Debra Austin wrote on the GoFundMe.

The Garcias leave behind four children ages 23, 19, 15, and 13, local News 4 reporter Amanda Henderson reported.

Nineteen students and two adults were killed on Tuesday, while witnesses say police officers waited at least 40 minutes to enter the school. The rampage ended when a Border Patrol agent fatally shot the suspected gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos.

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