A survivor of the tragic Parkland school shooting has died by suicide after enduring prolonged mental health challenges.
Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer, who was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, witnessed the horrific events when a gunman, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire, claiming 17 lives on Valentine’s Day of that year.
In the years following the attack, Metayer grappled with significant mental health issues and was subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia.
On December 15, Metayer took his own life, a heartbreaking development shared by his sister, Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Bowen, in a poignant Facebook post the next day.
“With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of my beloved brother, Donovan JL Metayer,” she expressed. “His presence was deeply cherished.”
An online fundraiser created by his family portrays Metayer as a “radiant” individual who not only excelled academically but also possessed an intellect and magnetic humor that effortlessly lit up any room he entered.
‘But beneath that light, Donny carried unimaginable sorrow.’
The fundraiser then goes on to explain that the trauma of the school shooting and the loss of his classmates ‘lingered long after graduation and profoundly altered the course of his life.’
Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer, 26, has died of suicide after spending years battling mental health issues
Metayer was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida when convicted gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire on Valentine’s Day 2018, killing 17 people
Maria Reyes, Stacy Buehler and Tiffany Goldberg light candles around a cross as they attend a candlelight memorial service for the victims of the shooting
‘In the months that followed, Danny began to withdraw,’ it says. ‘Depression, guilt, emotional instability and long periods of isolation replaced the vibrant young man we once knew.’
‘Though he had dreamt of college and a future in computer science, his worsening mental health made those dreams difficult to reach.’
In the years that followed, the family said, Metayer would be hospitalized multiple times for suicidal ideation as he ‘struggled to accept a mental health diagnosis.’
‘Treatment – therapy, medication and constant adjustments – was a journey marked by exhaustion,’ the fundraiser says, noting that Metayer ‘often masked his pain to not burden those he loved, even as our family fought alongside him.’
The family finally seemed to find some hope when Metayer was admitted to the Henderson Clinic and started seeing a private psychiatrist, who they said offered ‘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.
‘After years of challenges, he was beginning to carve out a sense of independence and a future he could believe in,’ the fundraiser says. ‘His progress was a sense of immense pride for his family.’
But then, Metayer took his own life inside the family home.
He had dreamed of attending college and pursuing a career in computer science
‘The loss of our family’s youngest child is a sorrow beyond words – one that will echo through our lives forever,’ the family wrote.
‘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.’
They called Metayer’s death a ‘heartbreaking reminder of the mental health crisis plaguing our youth and the lasting trauma of gun violence on our community.
‘Though Donny’s life was brief, his impact will be everlasting,’ the Metayer family said as they asked for monetary donations to assist with his celebration of life service.
The money will also be used to endow a fund at the Henderson Clinic ‘that will provide healthcare, housing and hope for people of all ages with behavioral health conditions throughout Florida.’
His family is now asking for donations to start a fund in his name at the Henderson Clinic to help other Floridians who are battling mental health issues
His sister also shared the fundraiser online, thanking the community for their love and support.
‘I see your messages, hear your voicemails and [am] deeply grateful for every expression of remorse,’ Bowen wrote on Facebook over the weekend.
‘To honor Donovan’s life and legacy, our family is establishing a mental health fund in his name,’ which she said ‘will expand access to mental health services and support for individuals and families who need it most.
‘Your generosity, compassion and continued support mean more than words can express during this time,’ she wrote.
‘Thank you for holding our family in your thoughts and for honoring Donovan’s memory with such grace, compassion and love.’
As of Sunday night, the fundraiser had already amassed more than $19,000.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
