A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the family of slain Robb Elementary School teacher Irma Garcia, who was one of 21 victims fatally shot by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos on Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas. Garcia’s husband Joe died Thursday morning.
The online fundraiser was started by Garcia’s cousin, Debra Austin, on Wednesday, with a goal of raising $10,000 to help meet family expenses. The GoFundMe page has raised over $217,000 at the time of publication Thursday afternoon.
“Irma was a wife, a mother of 4, a cousin, a sister, a daughter, an aunt and a wonderful person. She would literally do anything for anyone…no questions asked,” Austin said of her cousin on the fundraising page.
“She loved her class children and died trying to protect them. Please donate whatever you can to help her family,” Austin added.
Austin also released an update confirming the teacher’s husband died Thursday morning “as a result of a medical emergency.”
Garcia’s husband reportedly died of a heart attack, according to Ernie Zuniga of KAAB News in San Antonio, who first reported the death.
“Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, one of two teachers shot and killed Tuesday in Uvalde, TX, has reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack. Joe and Irma were high school sweethearts and had been married for 24 years. They leave behind four children, “Zunigas tweeted.
“I truly believe that Joe died of a broken heart and that losing the love of his life for more than 25 years was too much to bear,” Austin said.