Parkland School Shooting Survivor Donovan Metayer Dies at 26 Following Apparent Suicide!

Heartbreaking news, Noir Nation. 🕊️

Donovan Metayer, a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, has passed away at the age of 26. His family confirmed in a statement shared on Facebook that Donovan died following an apparent suicide.

Donovan’s sister, Nancy Metayer Bowen, revealed that he had been battling schizophrenia for the past seven years — a struggle his family says began after surviving the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.

“The loss of our family’s youngest child is a sorrow beyond words — one that will echo through our lives forever,” the family wrote on a GoFundMe created to help cover funeral expenses.

At the time of the shooting, Donovan was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. The attack claimed the lives of 17 people and injured 17 others. While Donovan survived, his family says the trauma deeply altered the course of his life.

“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.

According to his loved ones, the years following the shooting were marked by severe mental health challenges. Donovan carried what they described as “unimaginable sorrow,” experiencing depression, guilt, emotional instability, and long periods of isolation.

Though he dreamed of attending college and pursuing a future in computer science, his worsening mental health made those goals increasingly difficult. Over the years, Donovan was hospitalized multiple times for suicidal ideation and struggled to fully accept his diagnosis — a reality many young people facing mental illness encounter.

Per People Magazine, Donovan underwent treatment that included therapy and medication. In 2021, he experienced a crisis that resulted in involuntary treatment under Florida’s Baker Act, temporarily placing him on a mental health hold and barring him from purchasing a firearm.

With continued support, his family says Donovan began to show signs of healing. He earned an IT certificate and joined 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,” his family wrote. “His progress was a source of immense pride for our family.”

However, the family revealed that Donovan’s Risk Protection Order, which legally prevented him from purchasing a firearm, expired earlier this month. Shortly after, he was able to obtain a handgun.

“A week later, he would use that same handgun to take his own life in our family home,” the family wrote.

In the wake of Donovan’s passing, his family says they hope to launch an initiative aimed at improving access to behavioral health care for people in Florida — particularly young Black men navigating mental health crises amid systemic barriers and limited resources.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 support via call or text.