A tragic loss has occurred in the aftermath of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, as survivor Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer passed away on Monday at the age of 26. Metayer, who was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the tragic event that claimed 17 lives and left 18 others injured, struggled for years with a mental health crisis following the shooting. His family reported that he battled schizophrenia, which deeply affected his life.
A GoFundMe campaign established by his family revealed that after the shooting, Metayer withdrew, experiencing significant issues such as depression and emotional instability, and faced considerable isolation. His family noted, “The trauma of that day and the loss of classmates lingered long after graduation and profoundly altered the course of his life.”
Throughout his journey, Metayer was hospitalized multiple times due to suicidal thoughts. However, he faced challenges in accepting his mental health diagnosis. The family described his treatment journey, which included therapy and medication, as exhausting. They highlighted the systemic barriers to mental health treatment, especially for young Black men, making his battle even more challenging.
In honor of Donovan, his sister, Nancy Metayer Bowen, announced on social media that the family is establishing a mental health fund in his name, which has already raised over $17,000. Cameron Kasky, another survivor of the Parkland shooting who is currently running for Congress, shared the GoFundMe campaign to garner support.
Donovan’s death adds to the growing concern around the mental health impacts of gun violence, particularly among survivors. Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that there have been 394 mass shootings in 2023 alone, with gun violence claiming the lives of 987 teens and injuring 2,668 more. In a 2024 declaration, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy labeled gun violence as a public health crisis.
Metayer is not the first survivor of the Parkland shooting to succumb to mental health struggles following the event. In 2019, Sydney Aiello and another unnamed survivor also lost their lives within the same week. Additionally, Anne Marie Hochhalter, a victim of the 1999 Columbine shooting, passed away earlier this year due to complications related to her experience.
For those in need of support, resources are available. Individuals can call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for mental health assistance. Additional crisis resources can be found at dontcallthepolice.com and those outside the U.S. can reach out to the International Association for Suicide Prevention.