• Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP
    Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP
  • Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP
    Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP
  • Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
    Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
  • A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters
    A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters
  • A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters
    A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters
  • Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters
    Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters
  • Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters
    Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters
  • A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters
    A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters
  • People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters
    People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters
  • Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP
    Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP
  • People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP
    People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP
  • Flowers are left outside the school. AFP
    Flowers are left outside the school. AFP
  • Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo
    Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo
  • Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP
    Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP
  • A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP
    A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP
  • Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP
    Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP
  • Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP
    Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP
  • The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters
    The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters
  • Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters
    Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters
  • People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
    People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
  • A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
    A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
  • Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP
    Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP
  • Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA
    Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA
  • A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP
    A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP
  • Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
    Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
  • Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
    Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
  • A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
    A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
  • A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
    A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
  • Families at the vigil. AFP
    Families at the vigil. AFP
  • A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
    A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
  • Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP
    Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP
  • Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP
    Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP
  • Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
    Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
  • Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP
    Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP
  • Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters
    Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters
  • A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg
    A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg
  • Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP
    Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP
  • A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters
    A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters

Husband of teacher killed in Texas shooting dies of heart attack


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The husband of a teacher killed in the Texas school shooting has died from a heart attack, his family say.

Joe Garcia was preparing for the funeral of Irma Garcia, his high school sweetheart and wife of 24 years, when he collapsed and died on Thursday, his nephew John Martinez told The New York Times.

The couple leave behind four children, with the oldest 23 and the others teenagers, according to The Times.

Irma Garcia, 46, was one of two teachers killed on Tuesday at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, along with 19 children. Relatives briefed by authorities said Garcia and her co-teacher Eva Mireles died trying to protect their pupils.

"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," Mr Martinez wrote on his Twitter account, using the Spanish word for "aunt" and requesting prayers for the family.

"God have mercy on us, this isn't easy."

Mr Martinez, 21, a student at Texas State University, said Joe Garcia died after returning home from delivering flowers to a memorial for his wife.

He “pretty much just fell over”, Mr Martinez told The Times. "I'm really in shock right now."

Updated: May 27, 2022, 10:29 AM