By T. R. Causay, blackdoctor.org
Monday evening February 8, MarShawn M. McCarrel II, a “Black Lives Matter” activist, stood on the statehouse steps in Ohio and committed suicide, according to a Columbus Dispatch report.
Reports are that he shot himself right on the front steps. There were no witnesses and that McCarrel was pronounced dead at the scene.
Earlier in the day, the 23-year-old man left two final messages on social media. On Facebook, McCarrel allegedly wrote, “My demons won today. I’m sorry.” And on Twitter, “Let the record show that I pissed on the state house before I left.”
The “demons” McCarrell spoke of are many of the signs of someone who is seriously contemplating taking their life.
Other symptoms to look for are:
- Talking about suicide — for example, making statements such as “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were dead” or “I wish I hadn’t been born”
- Getting the means to take your own life, such as buying a gun or stockpiling pills
- Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone
- Having mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next
- Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence
- Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation
- Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
- Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns
- Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly
- Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order when there’s no other logical explanation for doing this
- Saying goodbye to people as if they won’t be seen again
- Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above
Warning signs aren’t always obvious, and they may vary from person to person. Some people make their intentions clear, while others keep suicidal thoughts and feelings secret.
But one thing is for sure, when ANY of these signs are shown, please take them seriously and see k help for that person.
“If only he had known that HIS life mattered too,” tweeted a friend earlier today.
McCarrel was involved in a mentorship program in Franklin Township and also helped launch a nonprofit group that fed the homeless.
McCarrel, who had recently worked with Black Lives Matter, helped organize protests in Ohio after a Missouri cop shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in 2014.
Because of his efforts, the community organizer was named one of Radio One’s Hometown Champions, an award for community activists and volunteers, earlier this year and earned a trip to the awards show in California. He took his mom to the Friday night ceremony.
McCarrel was homeless for three months after he graduated from high school — an experience that inspired him to help others, according to his nomination.
“When MarShawn got back on his feet, he felt the need to give back because so many people helped him when he was down,” it read. “MarShawn stresses the importance of having conversations with the people we feed because they’ll get hungry in 2 hours but a good conversation will carry them over for a lifetime.”
