PARKLAND, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — The family of Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer, a 26-year-old Parkland high school graduate, is asking the community to channel its grief into action after his death earlier this month.
In a post shared to Facebook, Metayer’s sister said her “baby brother, Donovan,” died by suicide on Monday, Dec. 15, after what she described as a seven-year battle with schizophrenia. She thanked people for the messages and support that have poured in since his death, but said she is not in a place to keep up with calls and conversations right now.
“I see your messages, hear your voicemails, and deeply grateful for every expression of remorse,” she wrote, adding that the family is establishing a mental health fund in Donovan’s name “to expand access to mental health services and support for individuals and families who need it most.”
A GoFundMe organized in Donovan’s name identifies him as Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer and describes him as the youngest child in the Metayer family, remembered as “Donny.” The fundraiser says he was “brilliant and curious,” known for humor and warmth, and that he excelled academically.
The GoFundMe also ties a major turning point in his life to his senior year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, when the Parkland school shooting occurred. The fundraiser describes that period as traumatic and says the loss of classmates and the events of that day lingered after graduation.
In the months that followed, the fundraiser says, Donovan withdrew and struggled with depression, guilt, emotional instability, and isolation. It says he had once dreamed of college and computer science, but his worsening mental health made it difficult to pursue those plans.
The fundraiser says Donovan was hospitalized multiple times for suicidal ideation over the years, and that accepting a mental health diagnosis was a struggle. It describes treatment — therapy, medication, and changes over time — as exhausting, and says he often tried to mask his pain to avoid burdening others.
The GoFundMe also points to systemic barriers the family says they faced while trying to secure care, including the realities of navigating mental health crises “as a young Black man.”
It says Donovan experienced a mental health episode in 2021 that resulted in him being Baker-acted, and that he was temporarily barred from purchasing a firearm. The fundraiser later states that his Risk Protection Order lapsed and that he purchased a handgun at a local gun shop before his death.
In describing a period of improvement, the GoFundMe says the Henderson Clinic and a private psychiatrist became a “lifeline,” providing guidance and hope. With support, the fundraiser says, Donovan earned an IT certificate and began working at Office Depot in Coral Springs, where he was quickly promoted. His progress, the fundraiser says, brought the family pride and a sense that he was building independence again.
The family says they are now raising money to help with celebration-of-life services and to endow a fund at the Henderson Clinic that would provide healthcare, housing, and support for people across Florida with behavioral health conditions.
In her Facebook post, Donovan’s sister asked supporters to consider donating “in lieu of calls, messages, or flowers,” describing even small donations as a meaningful way to honor his memory.
The family’s messages, taken together, are both personal and pointed — grief, yes, but also a decision to speak openly about schizophrenia, trauma, and what it can look like for a young person to fight for stability for years. It’s the kind of story many families keep private. They’re choosing not to.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In an emergency, call 911.
