CORAL SPRINGS – Officials and coworkers throughout the county and state are responding to the fatal shooting of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen. In tributes and public remarks, Bowen was remembered as a dedicated leader who set high standards while working cooperatively and focusing on practical solutions.
State Representative Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs)
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer.
Nancy was someone who truly cared about people and about this community. She did not just hold office. She showed up, she listened, and she worked every day to move Coral Springs forward. Her commitment to public service and her belief in the future of our community were clear in everything she did.
Anyone who spent even a few minutes with Nancy remembers her smile and enthusiasm for public service. It lit up a room and made you feel like you mattered. That is a rare quality, and it is something our community was better for.
This is a tremendous loss for Coral Springs. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, her loved ones, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.”
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell
“I am absolutely heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen. My prayers are with her loved ones, friends, and the entire Coral Springs community as they grapple with this senseless loss.
Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen dedicated herself to public service and to the people of Coral Springs. To lose such a kindhearted, humble servant leader in such a violent and unconscionable way is a shock that reverberates throughout our entire state.
She didn’t just hold an office; she held a deep-seated love for her neighbors and a tireless commitment to making Florida a better, safer place for everyone.
This loss is not just a political one; it is a human one. We have lost a leader who led with empathy and a friend who brightened every room she entered.
No family should have to endure this kind of loss. No community should have to grieve a leader taken from them by violence. I join with my colleagues across Florida in mourning Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen’s passing, and I urge that justice be pursued swiftly and fully on her behalf.
As we wait for more details to emerge from the ongoing investigation, I ask that we all hold the Vice Mayor’s loved ones in our hearts. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her, and may the Coral Springs community find strength and comfort in the days ahead.”
Representative Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville)
“I am in total shock and absolutely devastated to hear that we have lost Nancy, who was my friend, colleague, and sister in the movement. She was a kind and caring person, and a true leader in her community. This is an immense loss for all of us, and the world is darker without her. I am keeping Nancy’s family in my thoughts and prayers.”
City of Tamarac Vice Mayor Marlon D. Bolton
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer—an extraordinary leader, a devoted public servant, and a dear friend.
Nancy led with grace, strength, and an unwavering commitment to her community. She carried herself with purpose and compassion, always advocating for what was right and uplifting those around her. Her impact extended far beyond Coral Springs—she was a respected colleague and a shining example of what it means to serve.
On a personal level, this loss is especially heavy. Nancy was not only a partner in public service, but someone I truly valued as a friend. Her warmth, her wisdom, and her presence will be deeply missed.
Our hearts are heavy as we mourn this tremendous loss. We stand in prayer and solidarity with her family, her loved ones, and the entire Coral Springs community during this difficult time.
May her legacy continue to inspire us all to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction.”
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried reflected on how she had spoken with Metayer Bowen “just days ago” and that the two had embraced at the party’s Leadership Summit, “never imagining it would be one of our last moments together.”
“Nancy was not simply our Vice Chair of Haitian Outreach. She was a scientist. An environmentalist. A brilliant barrier-breaker who made history as the first Black and Haitian-American woman elected to the Coral Springs City Commission. A Vice Mayor who showed up every single day for the people she served. She loved her community deeply and believed, with every fiber of her being, that a better and more equitable future was possible for all of us,” Fried said in a statement.
“Above all, Nancy was my friend and a friend to everyone who has ever believed that democracy was worth fighting for. The world is less bright without her in it. Her memory will forever be a blessing to me, to our party, and to every person whose life she touched. My heart, my prayers, and the full love of the Florida Democratic Party are with her family and the people of Coral Springs as they face this unimaginable, devastating loss.”
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell called the news “beyond horrific.”
“Truly praying for her family and the entire community. She was such a sweet person with a servant’s heart,” she wrote on X. Driskell later released a statement in which she described Metayer Bowen as “a kindhearted, humble servant leader” whose “violent and unconscionable” death “is a shock that reverberates throughout our entire state.”
“This loss is not just a political one; it is a human one. We have lost a leader who led with empathy and a friend who brightened every room she entered,” she said. “No family should have to endure this kind of loss. No community should have to grieve a leader taken from them by violence. I join with my colleagues across Florida in mourning Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen’s passing, and I urge that justice be pursued swiftly and fully on her behalf.”
Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones
Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones said he was “deeply heartbroken.”
“The Coral Springs community — and all of Broward County — has lost a true champion,” he said in a statement. “Nancy was not only a trailblazer, but an incredible friend who showed up for people each and every day. The world is darker this evening without her light in it.”
Tamarac Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood
Tamarac Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood said in a statement that she was “shocked to be grieving” Metayer Bowen’s death.
“She was a model of public service and a tireless advocate for the people of Broward County and the Haitian American community,” she said. “I get up every day and go to work so that young women don’t have to die like this anymore. You never know what the people around you are going through. My prayers will be with her family and friends and with our community as we process this senseless tragedy.”
South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández
South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández called Metayer Bowen “a true believer … dedicated to service at her core.”
“This one hits hard. She was a light in a world that often seems overwhelmingly dark,” he wrote on X. “Her loss is profound. May she rest in peace.”
Congressional Candidate Dale V. C. Holness
“I am deeply saddened on the tragic passing of my dear friend, Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer. She was a dedicated public servant and a beautiful soul who truly loved her community and worked every day to make a difference.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones, and the entire community during this difficult time. You will be deeply missed.”
Representative Marie Woodson (D-Hollywood)
“Words cannot capture the profound loss we feel for my dear friend and colleague, Nancy Metayer Bowen. Her beauty, intelligence, and compassion enriched our lives and community.
It’s tragic that she is no longer with us to inspire and uplift those around her. As Haitian-Americans, we often discussed empowering our diaspora and the communities we serve. I was proud to call her my ‘little Sis’ as she became a powerful advocate in public service, first as a Commissioner and then as Vice Mayor.
Nancy’s ability to unite people made her a vital force in both local and national initiatives.
My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to her mother, family, friends, constituents, and all who were fortunate to know her. My family and I honor her spirit and the promise she held for a brighter future for everyone.”
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell
State Representative and House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) issued the following statement:
“I am absolutely heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen. My prayers are with her loved ones, friends, and the entire Coral Springs community as they grapple with this senseless loss.
Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen dedicated herself to public service and to the people of Coral Springs. To lose such a kindhearted, humble servant leader in such a violent and unconscionable way is a shock that reverberates throughout our entire state.
She didn’t just hold an office; she held a deep-seated love for her neighbors and a tireless commitment to making Florida a better, safer place for everyone.
This loss is not just a political one; it is a human one. We have lost a leader who led with empathy and a friend who brightened every room she entered.
No family should have to endure this kind of loss. No community should have to grieve a leader taken from them by violence. I join with my colleagues across Florida in mourning Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen’s passing, and I urge that justice be pursued swiftly and fully on her behalf.
As we wait for more details to emerge from the ongoing investigation, I ask that we all hold the Vice Mayor’s loved ones in our hearts. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her, and may the Coral Springs community find strength and comfort in the days ahead.”
