FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A non-profit organization in Fort Myers says people should take advantage of community resources to get their children help when they see trouble signs.
Valerie's House on Fowler street helps children and families grieve loss, and offers counseling and support from others in similar situations. Founder Angela Melvin says programs like this one are a resource everyone should take advantage of.
Thursday, it was revealed that both adoptive parents of Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people in a Parkland high school, are dead. Melvin says grief could have played a factor in his mental decline. "There are significant things in kids lives that cause PTSD, cause anger, cause aggression, and grief certainly is one of them. Losing a parent can certainly add to that."
Melvin is not sure what triggered the shooter's attack. Many others want to know why, and how a similar incident can be prevented. "I don't think there are any answers to prevent it. All I can tell you is there are organizations like Valerie's house here to try to provide a safety net for kids," she said. "If it's not dealt with, it will manifest. We can only hope that it doesn't manifest into violence, but sometimes it does."
