Family Members Pay Tribute As Husband Of Teacher Killed In School Shooting 'Dies From Grief'

The husband of a school teacher who was killed in this week's Texas school shooting has died of a heart attack just days after the devastating attack.

Family members have taken to social media to pay tribute to the couple who died within days of each other.

Irma Garcia was one of the two teachers who lost their lives in an effort to protect their students during the shooting at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos killed at least 19 children and two teachers when he opened fire on the school this Tuesday, while 17 additional people were hospitalised.

Irma Garcia was a fourth-grade teacher at Robb Elementary and had been married to her husband Joe Garcia for over 24 years, according to the school's website.

On Thursday, it was reported that Joe died of an apparent heart attack, though family members claim he died of grief.

In a post to Twitter, Texas State University student John Martinez, 21, shared the heartbreaking news of his uncle's death mere days after losing his aunt.

He wrote: "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, PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy."

Remembering his uncle and aunt, he continued: "My Tia Irma and Joe Garcia were high school sweethearts and leave behind 4 beautiful children, their ages being 23, 19, 15 and the youngest only being 13 years old, no child should have to go through this, my heart breaks for them."

Another nephew of the late couple, Joey Martinez, tweeted: "Lord god please on our family, my tias husband passed away this morning due to a heart attack at home he’s with his wife now, these two will make anyone feel loved no matter what they have the purest hearts ever I love you sm tia and tio please be with me every step of the way."

The family of the couple have since set up an online fundraiser to support their four children.

In the description of the fundraiser, which has already raised $1.7 million (£1.3 million), a family member wrote: "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."

The Uvalde shooting has been dubbed the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012, and has sparked nationwide debate about gun laws in the US.