A young man who survived the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has died by suicide after a long struggle with his mental health.
The Trauma That Lingered
Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer was 26 years old. He was a senior at the school on Valentine's Day in 2018 when the convicted gunman, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire, killing 17 people. In the years that followed the horrific event, Metayer battled severe mental health issues, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
His sister, Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Bowen, announced his death on Facebook on 16 December, confirming he had taken his own life the previous day. She wrote of her 'heavy heart' and described her brother as someone who was 'deeply loved'.
A Bright Light Dimmed by Unimaginable Sorrow
An online fundraiser established by his family painted a picture of a 'radiant' child who excelled academically and possessed a magnetic personality. However, it explained that 'beneath that light, Donny carried unimaginable sorrow.'
The trauma of the school shooting and the loss of his classmates 'lingered long after graduation and profoundly altered the course of his life.' The family detailed how he began to withdraw, with depression, guilt, and isolation replacing the vibrant young man they once knew.
Though he had dreams of university and a career in computer science, his deteriorating mental health made those ambitions difficult to achieve. He was hospitalised multiple times for suicidal ideation as he 'struggled to accept a mental health diagnosis.'
A Journey of Exhaustion and a Glimmer of Hope
The family described his treatment—involving therapy and medication—as 'a journey marked by exhaustion.' They noted he often masked his pain to avoid burdening his loved ones.
A period of hope emerged when Metayer was admitted to the Henderson Clinic and began seeing a private psychiatrist who offered 'guidance, compassion and hope for his future.' With this support, he earned an IT certificate, joined the team at an Office Depot in Coral Springs, and 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 stated. 'His progress was a sense of immense pride for his family.'
A Legacy of Advocacy Amidst Grief
Tragically, this progress was cut short when Metayer took his own life at the family home. His family called his death a 'heartbreaking reminder of the mental health crisis plaguing our youth and the lasting trauma of gun violence on our community.'
In their grief, they are choosing to speak out so other families 'do not have to suffer in silence.' They are asking for donations to assist with his celebration of life and, more significantly, to endow a fund in his name at the Henderson Clinic.
This fund will 'provide healthcare, housing and hope for people of all ages with behavioural health conditions throughout Florida.' By Sunday night, the fundraiser had already amassed more than $19,000.
Vice Mayor Bowen thanked the community for their support, writing that the family's new mental health fund will 'expand access to mental health services and support for individuals and families who need it most.'
If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988, or visit 988lifeline.org.
