Florida Action Alliance Mourns the Killing of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lucy Rowles - Florida Action Alliance Coalition Leader

đź“ž 954-802-4386    ✉️ lrowles@newtownaction.org 

Florida Action Alliance Mourns the Killing of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen

Calls for Urgent Action to Prevent Gun Violence

FLORIDA —Newtown Action Alliance released the following statement after Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen was shot and killed in an apparent domestic violence incident. 

Lucy Rowles - Florida Action Alliance Coalition Leader

“Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen was a devoted mother, educator, public servant, and trailblazing leader. She was the first Black and Haitian American woman elected to the Coral Springs City Commission who dedicated her life to serving her community, the State of Florida and our nation. Her life was cut short in an act of gun violence that, according to reports, involved domestic violence. Her husband is in custody.

This devastating loss underscores a painful truth. Gun violence is not confined to mass shootings—it is happening every day in homes and communities across Florida. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s 2023 Domestic Violence Offense Report, nearly 200 people are killed each year in domestic violence incidents in Florida, with firearms used in the majority of cases

The Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen’s death is a stark reminder that gun violence is deeply intertwined with domestic violence, and when a gun is present, the outcome is too often fatal. Domestic violence incidents involving guns are among the most lethal. When a gun is present in a domestic violence situation, a woman is five times more likely to be killed. 

The question is not whether we know how to prevent these deaths—we do. The question is whether Florida lawmakers are willing to act. These tragedies are predictable and preventable. At a time when Florida lawmakers are considering policies that would expand access to firearms in more spaces, including college campuses, we must ask ourselves: are we truly prioritizing safety?

The Florida Action Alliance calls on state leaders to:

  • Strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence

  • Ensure rigorous enforcement of existing firearm laws

  • Invest in prevention strategies and community safety initiatives

  • Reject policies that increase the presence of firearms in sensitive and high-risk environments

We will honor Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen not only with our grief, but with our commitment to action. No family, no community, and no public servant should have to pay this price. The Florida Action Alliance stands in solidarity with her family, loved ones, and the Coral Springs community.”

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Florida Action Alliance is a statewide coalition of gun violence survivors, students, educators, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and community organizations working together to advance policies and solutions that prevent gun violence and protect all Floridians.

Newtown Action Alliance (www.newtownactionalliance.org) is a Newtown-based, national grassroots organization formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Our mission is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.

Press ReleasePo Murray2023