Warning: This article involves discussion of gun violence and suicide which may be upsetting for some readers.
Donovan Metayer, who survived the 2018 Parkland school shooting, has passed away at 26, his family has announced.
Metayer was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida when 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz carried out a shooting, leading to the deaths of 17 people and injuries to 18 others. Cruz, responsible for one of the most lethal high school shootings in the U.S., received a life sentence without parole in November 2022.
After the tragedy in Parkland, Metayer struggled with profound emotional pain and severe mental health challenges, including “depression, guilt, emotional instability, and extensive periods of isolation,” according to his family.
“Though he had dreamt of college and a future in computer science, his worsening mental health made those dreams difficult to reach,” his family stated, via GoFundMe.
“Over the years that followed, he would be hospitalized multiple times for suicidal ideation. Like so many young people, he struggled to accept a mental health diagnosis.”
Diagnosed with schizophrenia seven years ago, Metayer ended his life on December 15, as his sister, Nancy Metayer Bowen, confirmed.
“The loss of our family’s youngest child is a sorrow beyond words—one that will echo through our lives, forever,” the GoFundMe page reads.
“Yet even in our grief, we are choosing to speak Donovan’s truth, so that other families do not have to suffer in silence the way we have.”
The family shared that their son concealed his pain after the Parkland shooting to avoid affecting his family.
In 2021, he experienced a mental health crisis, leading to the activation of Florida’s Mental Health Act, temporarily preventing him from buying a firearm.
Eventually, the family connected with Henderson Behavioral Health Clinic, which provided “guidance, compassion, and hope for his future.”
“With their support, Donny began to heal, earning an IT certificate and joining the team at Office Depot in Coral Springs, where he was quickly promoted,” the family commented.
“After years of challenges, he was beginning to carve out a sense of independence and a future he could believe in. His progress was a source of immense pride for our family.”
Earlier this month, Metayer discovered that his Risk Protection Order had expired, allowing him to purchase a firearm.
“A week later, he would use that same handgun to take his own life in our family home,” they stated.
“Donny’s passing is a heartbreaking reminder of the mental health crisis plaguing our youth and the lasting trauma of gun violence on our community.
“As we grieve his loss, we are breaking the code of silence in his memory.”
Instead of calls, messages, or flowers, Matayer’s sister has invited supporters to consider donating to a mental health fund established in her brother’s memory.
“This fund will expand access to mental health services and support for individuals and families who need it most,” she explained. “Your generosity, compassion, and continued support mean more than words can express during this time.”
The fund will be endowed at the Henderson Clinic, according to the GoFundMe page.
Donations will help “provide healthcare, housing, and hope for people of all ages with behavioral health conditions throughout Florida.”
At the time of writing, Metayer’s GoFundMe page has gathered $36,331 towards its $70,000 goal.
If you wish to contribute, you can click here.
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence, please find more information and support via Survivors Empowered on their website.
Anyone struggling or in a mental health crisis can receive help through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
For mental health assistance, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.