Teen who was relentlessly bullied kills herself in front of her family

Blue hearts, for her "stunning blue eyes," are taped up and down her highschool hallway.

All of them a heartbreaking reminder of a life reduce brief.

Vela killed herself this week, placing a gun to her chest whereas her household begged her to not. She was 18 years previous -- and she or he had been relentlessly bullied.

Brandy's sister, Jackie, says the teenager had all the time been bullied for her weight, however the cyberbullying ramped up in April.

"Individuals would make up faux Fb accounts and they might message her and she or he would not reply and they might nonetheless come at her," Jackie stated.

"They'd say actually, actually imply issues like, 'Why are you continue to right here?' They'd name her fats and ugly. She was stunning, completely stunning; the one factor folks might discover to select on her was her weight."

Jackie says her sister modified her cellphone quantity and reported the bullying to police, however was informed they could not assist her.

"They could not do something as a result of [the suspects] used an app and it wasn't traceable they usually could not do one thing till one thing occurred, like they struggle," Jackie stated.

'I am sorry for every thing'

Jackie stated she knew one thing was unsuitable when she obtained a textual content from Brandy on Tuesday saying "I really like you a lot, please do not forget that, and I am sorry for every thing."

Anxious, she referred to as her dad and mom and grandparents. They rushed house to their home in Texas Metropolis, Texas, the place they discovered Brandy in her room with a gun.

The household pleaded with the teenager to not pull the set off. However Brandy had made up her thoughts.

A devastated neighborhood

Melissa Tortorici, the communications director for the Texas Metropolis Impartial Faculty District the place Brandy was a highschool senior, says the neighborhood is "devastated."

"Brandy was well-liked and pleasant. Texas Metropolis Excessive Faculty college students actually favored her. She has touched many individuals as evident by the outpouring of affection from her schoolmates," Tortorici wrote in an e-mail to CNN.

Texas Metropolis police Capt. Joe Stanton informed CNN that detectives have been interviewing the household and might be contacting folks the household believes are suspects. They're additionally following up on a number of ideas that got here in.

As well as, sheriff's deputies might be addressing cyberbullying once more with college students subsequent week.

"As we speak's younger adults and youngsters have grown up with know-how they usually have entry to it 24/7. Many occasions they turn out to be very daring over know-how and textual content issues they might by no means say on to somebody's face," Tortorici stated.

"It is extraordinarily tough to cease somebody from sending messages when apps make it simple to stay nameless."

Tortorici stated college students are planning to launch blue balloons in Brandy's honor Friday.

A brand new actuality

After she shot herself, Brandy was taken to an area hospital the place she was pronounced lifeless. Her organs, together with these eyes, have been recovered.

"She had stunning eyes," Jackie stated, including the household hopes to fulfill the one that receives them.

For now, Jackie is adjusting to her new actuality.

'I will miss having her be right here, going into her room and laying together with her and speaking to her."