TEXAS CITY, Texas (AP) — Family members of a Houston-area high school student who killed herself are rallying for tighter laws against cyberbullying.

 

Brandy Vela's family says cyberbullying pushed the 18-year-old over the edge, leading her to shoot herself in the chest Tuesday afternoon at the family's Texas City home as family members watched.

 

Her father, Raul Vela, said Brandy had been receiving abusive text messages for months from bullies using an untraceable smartphone application. Her father said someone made a fake Facebook page of her, creating another cyberbullying medium.

 

Vela said the family reported the bullying to the Texas City school district and several law enforcement agencies.

 

The father tells KPRC-TV of Houston that he hopes for stricter laws against cyberbullying and greater awareness of the problem.