Nine months after the tragic mass shooting at El Paso, Texas’ Walmart, the rippling effects of the horrendous act of violence are still being felt. Guillermo “Memo” Garcia, the last hospitalized patient from the shooting, passed away on Saturday (April 25).
“After a nearly nine-month fight, our hearts are heavy as we report Guillermo “Memo” Garcia, our last remaining patient being treated from the El Paso shooting, has passed away,” David Shimp, chief executive officer for Del Sol Medical Center, told ABC-7.
On the morning of the shooting, Garcia, the 23rd victim of the hate crime, was fundraising for his daughter’s soccer team, alongside his family. His wife, Jessica Garcia, shared a beautiful note with ABC-7 after her husband’s passing:
“Last night at 11:22 we lost a warrior but gained an angel,” she wrote. “He fought long and hard, with the help of all his troops he won many battles but lost the war. I would like to thank the community for all the love, support, and prayers. On behalf of the Garcia family, we would like to give the community the opportunity to pay their respects but due to the current circumstances, we feel that right now is not the right time. We would like to ask the community to continue to lift Memo in prayer and allow us to grief this tremendous loss, we are asking for privacy during this time. When the pandemic and social distancing orders pass we will have a proper memorial and mass where the community can pay their respects to an El Paso warrior!”
Rest in power, Garcia.