Grief Hits Parkland Again After Two School Shooting Survivors Commit Suicide Within Days of Each Other

Emily Jones
03-25-2019

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Florida leaders are sending more mental health resources to the Majory Stoneman Douglas High School community after two Parkland shooting survivors killed themselves within a week of each other. 

On Saturday, a Parkland sophomore became the second shooting survivor in a week to end their life, according to Coral Springs police. Just days before, another survivor named Sydney Aiello also committed suicide. 

Aiello's mother told CBS Miami that her daughter suffered survivor's guilt after the 2018 shooting and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office said Aiello died from a gunshot wound.

The two suicides drew calls for Florida lawmakers to devote more money to mental health services for the Majory Stoneman Douglas High School community. 

"Now is the time for the Florida Legislature to help," said Jared Moskowitz, Florida's emergency management director and a former state representative from Parkland.

Local leaders aren't waiting for state legislators to step up. 

On Sunday, dozens of school, county, city, law enforcement officials and mental health specialists held an emergency meeting. 

The Miami Herald reports that the school district will give parents the "Columbia Protocol," a series of six questions to ask their children. The answers to those questions will determine what emergency resources or therapy options their child needs. 

"During the Spring break, I encourage you to take time to speak with your children every day. Dinners are a great time for family conversation," said Superintendent Robert Runcie. "We need to remove the stigma from talking about suicide."

Police have yet to release the name or age of the second suicide victim. Investigators say he was a male student who was in 10th grade and attended Stoneman Douglas during last year's shooting. 

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About The Author

Emily
Jones

Emily Jones is a multi-media journalist for CBN News in Jerusalem. Before she moved to the Middle East in 2019, she spent years regularly traveling to the region to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, meet with government officials, and raise awareness about Christian persecution. During her college years, Emily served as president of Regent University's Christians United for Israel chapter and spoke alongside world leaders at numerous conferences and events. She is an active member of the Philos Project, an organization that seeks to promote positive Christian engagement with the Middle
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