Life suffered an irremediable hit for the 15 year old Lyliana on May 24, 2022, the ill-fated day when an 18 year old Salvador Rolando Ramos fatally shot 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States. 17 other people were also wounded in the deadly shooting.
2 days later Joe Garcia, Irma’s husband died of a heart attack as per a Twitter post made by a nephew.
Within days, Lyliana and her three siblings lost both their parents. Irma Garcia, 48, was gunned down along with colleague Eva Mireles, 44, on the day of the Texas school massacre. Mireles has a daughter in the college.
A marriage of 24 years ended with heartbreak and grief in the most grievous manner ! Before his death, Joe had laid flowers at a memorial for the victims; now a cross bearing his name has been added.
The Garcias have left behind their four kids, who are between 12 to 23 years old.
On Sunday, the youngest daughter of Garcias, Lyliana wrote a heartbreaking tribute for her deceased parents.
"Dad, I know it was too much for you..."
"Dad, I know this was too much for you. Your heart could not take it. I will spend the rest of my life fighting for you and mum. Your names will not be forgotten. Your daughter, Lyliana," the 15 year old's tribute for her parents reads.
Two days after Irma’s death, her nephew John Martinez, posted on Twitter about the passing away of Joe Gracia due to “grief” and “heartbreak”.
"She sacrificed herself protecting kids"
Irma was found by the officers embracing children in her arms. She protected kids till her last breath. "My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y’all’s prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO. She was loved by many and will truly be missed," Martinez wrote in another post on Twitter. He fondly called Irma, Tia.
A cousin of Irma wrote, "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 anybody......no questions asked. She loved her classroom kids and died trying to protect them."
That ill-fated day
On May 24, 2022, an 18 year old gunman, with AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and high-capacity magazines, shot nineteen young children and two adults at Robb Elementary School. The school teaches children aged 7 to 10 year olds.
"My little love is now flying high with the angels above. Please don't take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them," wrote Angel Garza who lost his daughter Amerie in the shooting.
There have already been 27 school shootings this year alone in the US. Reportedly, school kids are being routinely rehearsed what to do if a gunman enters their classroom.
