Mom Says Parkland School Shooting Survivor Sydney Aiello Took Her Own Life

A Parkland school shooting survivor took her own life a little over a year after the Valentine's Day massacre that claimed the lives of her fellow students. 

Sydney Aiello died by suicide last weekend, her mother, Cara Aiello, told local CBS station WFOR-TV. She was just 19 years old. Aiello said her daughter had struggled to cope in the wake of shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and suffered from survivor's guilt. The attack left 17 people dead, which included 14 students and three staff members.

A close friend of Meadow Pollack, who was killed in the shooting, Sydney was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was fearful of being in a classroom, according to her mother.

Ryan Petty, whose daughter Alaina also died in the shooting, told WFOR-TV that he's been concerned about the toll PTSD might take on the survivors. 

“It breaks my heart that we’ve lost yet another student from Stoneman Douglas,” Petty said. “My advice to parents is to ask questions, don’t wait.”

Suspect Nikolas Cruz, who police say confessed to the killings, faces first-degree murder and attempted murder charges. Prosecutors rejected a plea deal from the defense, which would have taken the death penalty off the table in exchange for a guilty plea.

A trial date has not been set.

A GoFundMe page in honor Sydney, started by family friends, has raised $30,000 in donations for her family.

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