I have had alopecia from the age of six, and I am now 30 years old. Alopecia is difficult enough to grow up with, but now we have to fear getting killed because of it!!!! The National Alopecia Areata Foundation is definitely working hard to make sure this tragedy draws a lot of attention. The abuse, ridicule and hatred MUST STOP! To Ryan's friends and family, God's love peace be with you. I am so sorry about this.

I am Ryan's big sister Crystal ~This is to Ryan~~~ Ryan you touched a place in my heart will never fo away !! You were very special to me I remember the first time I met you They couldnt of pryde you off of me with a pry bar!! After that I could never get away from you but I am very glad that I couldnt get away from you I love you and I dont think I will ever get over this!! All the kids talk about you all the time Destinee and Nahaniel call you Uncle Bryan. They see u on tv and the paper and they make sure they know the everyone knows you are there uncle!! Nathaniel carried ur in memory thing around the other day crackin up ~!! Thats my uncle Bryan !!! it was so funny!!! I love u and I know u know that!! I will never let them forget you and I am not sayin good~bye!!! I know you are gone home to be with my mamaw and to wait on me!!! love you little brother!!!

Poor baby, he was so young....hope he get justice! When will this goverment create a powerful law to control the teenagers violent attitud and their agresive anger against others. please.

I know how hard it is to lose someone you love very much. I lost my brother a few years ago, my mom had to decide to take him off life support. I hope no one has said to you, it'll get better because it won't, the pain remains but you learn to cope with pain. My brother was special in many ways because he was handicapped and a GIFT from God. When his death came a person reminded me he was gift and not mine to be upset about losing; "You need to thank God daily for lending him to you so long, his work was well done and he now needs to return home to rest" it made sense to me. So I hope you can look forward to the day you reunite, he's not gone, just moved far away for now. God Bless You all.

I knew him really well he is my cousin .he was my older cousin chris s best friend . he always could make u laugh even when you didn" t wan't to. the thing was i thought it was possible to be in a bad mood around him because he allways had a ways to make you laugh when all you wanted to do was cry .i will always remember hi/my big couin RYAN MCDONALD for that. i love you and you'll always be in my heart. briana brewer

I knew him really well he is my cousin .he was my older cousin chris s best friend . he always could make u laugh even when you didn" t wan't to. the thing was i thought it was possible to be in a bad mood around him because he allways had a ways to make you laugh when all you wanted to do was cry .i will always remember hi/my big couin RYAN MCDONALD for that. i love you and you'll always be in my heart. briana brewer

Ryan was my nephew, my brother's son. We loved Ryan a great deal and he will be missed a tremendous amount. I am not sure how we will go on with holidays and family gatherings without him. He was so lively and always joking. I have too many memories to share, but what came to my mind when I went into his bedroom at my mom's house after we left the hospital was that he was my "Little Bunny Foo Foo" when he was small and I still called him that sometimes. He would always smile and just give me a look of love when I did. Even though we have buried Ryan, I still can't get my mind around the fact that he was taken at such a young age. But he was. We must find a way through this and hope it changes the way schools handle security in the future. Ryan would want all kids to be safe, especially at school. Thank you to all of the people who have reached out to my family over the past days since we learned our child was taken. It was overwhelming and greatly appreciated. Rest in peace my Ryan, I love you.....Aunt Tessie

Ryan was my nephew, my brother's son. We loved Ryan a great deal and he will be missed a tremendous amount. I am not sure how we will go on with holidays and family gatherings without him. He was so lively and always joking. I have too many memories to share, but what came to my mind when I went into his bedroom at my mom's house after we left the hospital was that he was my "Little Bunny Foo Foo" when he was small and I still called him that sometimes. He would always smile and just give me a look of love when I did. Even though we have buried Ryan, I still can't get my mind around the fact that he was taken at such a young age. But he was. We must find a way through this and hope it changes the way schools handle security in the future. Ryan would want all kids to be safe, especially at school. Thank you to all of the people who have reached out to my family over the past days since we learned our child was taken. It was overwhelming and greatly appreciated. Rest in peace my Ryan, I love you.....Aunt Tessie

I have only read about you and known of your existence for about 5 minutes, and you have inspired me. I am so sorry that you were around such cruel people, but know that you will always be young and beautiful and you are now with our king. Rest in Peace. May justice be served accordingly!

I am so sorry for this family! i don't know ryan, but i have three teen age kids and i pray for them to be safe as they leave for school or any where they go! my thoughts and prayrs are with you all!

I don't know Ryan or members of this community, but I heard about this on the news. I also have Alopecia and I know how it is to build up this tough exterior to try and protect yourself from the ridicule of others. It's such a difficult thing to grow up with and I'm shaken that someone would choose to respond in such a violent way. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Ryan - angels are guiding him now. Rest in peace.

I can't remember what grade we were in together, but he was the sweetest person. I don't think you could have asked for a better friend then Ryan... I don't know if he would have remembered me but I definatley remembered him.... if you want to talk to me you can reach my blog at www.myspace.com/r_tates_girl

I would just like to thank everyone for there thoughts and prayers. Roger McDonald Ryans uncle

Today was another ordinary day in the life of a man who works a forty something hour a week job. I also serve as a youth pastor a church in a nice community known as Fountain City. We have the normal all American life here; we have all the things that unite families and friends. We value religion and little league sports. We practice neighborhood watches and looking out for our neighbors. I actually have a lady who goes through our neighborhood and put our newspapers on our front porch while she walks her dog. We have a ministry center that reaches out to those who are less fortunate. And we give our time to a great cause such as operationinasmuch where we go to work in our community as a large outpouring of support to our firefighters, the elderly, single moms, the less fortunate and just making our community a safe and beautiful place to live. I admit, I live a jaded life. My neighbors watch my house while I am not home and know if a strange car is on our street. My babysitters, which are also my in-laws live up the street from me along with several others who choose to live in this area because of the safe and wholesome environment that exists. School shootings are the last thing on our minds because most of the kids in our neighborhoods play sports and are good students who pretty much get along. So yesterday, when my Pastor called me to let me know that Central High School had a shooting and the details were unknown. I was shocked and speechless. Not in my back yard! It couldn't be, not in our safe place. As the day unfolded and the events began to become public we realized that it was an argument between two boys. Jamar Siler walked into the commons area and shot Ryan McDonald in the chest with a small handgun. The thing is this wasn't a Columbine type shooting. It could have taken place anywhere, but it happened in our school. A place where kids are supposed to be safe and get an education free from harm. I have the same questions everyone does. Why? Why do students feel like violence is the only answer to their problems. I believe it is just the way life is in a post-faith/value, Christian society. We live in a fallen world and that is part of the fallen nature of people. I know that sometimes it is "just because" and there are no answers. What I do know is that not just one kid was lost yesterday, but two. I attended a prayer service last night for the community. It was nice and it helped many of our families and students in the community begin the healing process. We were told it is ok to cry and express our emotions to one another. I know many who cried and were leaning on one another for support. The nice thing is that most of these kids get to go home to safe environment. They will have their parents to speak to about how they feel, their parents will hug them like I hugged my kids this morning. I admit, I was not aware of the "other students" who were not at this service who live near Ryan in the Lonsdale community. It is a neighborhood where kids are from a different type of environment. It is a harder life where kids have to be street smart to get by. As I stood in front of Ryan's grandmother's house, I got the strange since of guilt. A sort of sorrow that one feels who knows how he has somehow been blessed to be raised in a two parent middle class home. Now that I know that Ryan's mom had just been released from jail the morning of the shooting. You see last summer; I began to have a large burden for the students in our area. I began a ministry called Icarus Children (www.icaruschildren.org) to reach out to "troubled teens". Last night, I know more than ever that this is our responsibility as a community and as a country. I am sorry for both students that they went to school in the community and I neglected the opportunity to reach out to them as a youth pastor. I know that today is a new day. A new opportunity. I believe several artists have given us some insights on certain issues. Everlast- You know where it ends. Yo, it usually depends on where you start God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news 'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose Then you really might know what it's like. To have to lose... P.O.D. Last day of the rest of my life I wish I would have known cause i'd have kissed my momma goodbye. I didn't tell her that I loved her or how much cared or thank my pops for all the talks and all the wisdom he shared. Unaware I just did what I always do. Everyday the same routine before I skate off to school but who knew that this day wasn’t like the rest, instead of takin the test I took two to the chest. Call me blind but I didn't see it comin and everybody was runnin but I couldn't hear nothin, except gun blast, it happened so fast I didn't really know this kid though I sat by him in class. Maybe this kid was reachin out for love or maybe for a moment he forgot who he was or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged, Little Suzzy she was only twelve she was given the world with every chance to excel. Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell she might act kinda proud but no respect for herself. She finds love in all the wrong places the same situations but different faces. Changed up her pace since her daddy left her too bad he never told her she deserved much better. Johnny boy always played the fool, he broke all the rules so you would think he was cool. He was never really one of the guys no matter how hard he tried, with the thought of suicide. It's kinda hard when you ain't got no friends, he put his life to an end they might remember him then. You cross a line and there is no turnin back he told the world how he felt with the sound of a gat. Who’s to blame for the life that tragedies claim no matter what you say it won't take away the pain, that I feel inside I'm tired of all the lies don't nobody know why it's the blind leadin the blind.Guess that's the way that the story goes, will it ever make sense somebody's gotta know, there's gotta be more to life than this, there's got to be more to everything I thought exists. whatever it was I know its because "We are the youth of the nation." I want to leave you with the lryics to a Superchik song that gives me inspiration. "Hero" No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in But we feel like we do when we make fun of him Cause you want to belong, do you go along? Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong It's not like you hate him or want him to die But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side And a kindness from you might have saved his life [Tag:] Heroes are made when you make a choice [Chorus:] You could be a hero - heroes do what's right You could be a hero - you might save a life You could be a hero- you could join the fight For what's right, for what's right, for what's right No one talks to her, she feels so alone She's in too much pain to survive on her own The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife She writes on her arm and wants to give up her life Each day she goes on is a day that she's brave Fighting the lie that giving up is the way Each moment of courage her on life she saves When she throws the pills out a hero is made Heroes are made when you make a choice Little Mikey D. was the one in class who everyday got brutally harassed This went on for years until he decided that never again would he shed another tear So he walked through the door, grabbed a four-four out of his father's dresser drawer And said I can't take life no more And like that life can be lost But this ain't even about that All of us just sat back and watched it happen Thinkin' it's not my responsibility to solve a problem that isn't even about me This is our problem This is just one of the daily scenarios which we choose to close our eyes Instead of doing the right thing If we make a choice and be the voice for those who won't speak up for themselves How many lives would be saved, changed, and rearranged Now it's our time to pick a side So don't keep walkin' by Not wantin' to intervene Cause you wanna exist and never be seen So let's wake up and change the world Our time is now No one talks to him about how he lives He thinks that the choices he makes are just his Doesn't know he's the leader with the way he behaves And others will follow the choices he's made He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide His brother who wants to be him is just nine He can do what he wants because it's his right The choices he makes change a nine-year-old's life [Chorus:] You could be a hero (Our time is now) Heroes do what's right You could be a hero (Our time is now) You might save a life You could be a hero, You could join the fight (Our time is now) For what's right, for what's right Let's be heros together! Vernon R.I.P. Ryan McDonald God still loves you Jamar Siler! Forgiveness is a lot harder than hate!

My deepest sympathies are with you and your family at this time. Even though I do not know you or your family, I wanted y'all to know that you are in the hearts of people all over the world. May Ryan be happy and carefree forever! With Love from the Blount family in Birmingham, AL.

My deepest sympathies are with you and your family at this time. Even though I do not know you or your family, I wanted y'all to know that you are in the hearts of people all over the world. May Ryan be happy and carefree forever! With Love from the Blount family in Birmingham, AL.

So many horrendous things happen and are reported on television and in the news on a daily basis that it is sometimes a lack of emotion. Not with this story. When I read it, I wept. My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Ryan. May he rest in the peace of God. I hope the memories that you share with Ryan were good ones and will carry you through the pain and sorrows that you face each time you think about him. I hope your tears will eventually be erased and your memories will evoke smiles. I will never forget the loss of this young man that I never knew.

im gonna miss ryan soo much.i knew him for awhile, and he came to me with problems he had.it breaks my heart to think that someone could take a kids life away when they have so much to live for.i love you ryan and im gonna mss you so much! -amanda bright

Ryan's death has affected everyone in the Fountain City community. We have all felt we lived in a safe little haven here - things like this don't happen. Sadly, we were so wrong. Most of us did not know Ryan, but now we will always remember him. Hopefully, there will be some good to come from this terrible loss, though I find that reason hard to discover right now. We all hope his family is comforted by their wonderful memories of him, and know that they are held close to the hearts of us all.

What a horrible tradgedy! I didn't know Ryan,heard about it on the news, and I can't understand how something like this happens. My deepest sympathy, and prayers for the family, and friends of this young boy. God Bless you all and may he give you strength. Take comfort in know that he is in the loving arms of the Lord now, and nothing will ever hurt him again!

I did not go to school with ryan and i did not know him but from what i have heard he sounds like a great kid i have prayed for the family and for no honest reason this 15 year old has be shot to death love, brianna

What a senseless and tragic loss. No family should have to go through the loss of their child. You are all in my prayers.

MY heart feels so sad that this child had to endure being picked on and then, he is at school, which should be a safe place, and gets shot to death. I don't know this boy but I'm in tears for what he went through. I have boys myself and I can't imagine the anguish of not only having your child picked on but then killed because he looked different. This will not leave my memory any time soon and tear up everytime I think about it. I can't imagine the thought Ryan had after he got shot and tried to walk before he collapsed. It makes me ill to think what he went through...it makes you just want to hig him. The problem is the world is their is a lack of respect for human life and compassion and love. He fell right into Jesus' arms and may he have rest and peace.

We deal with children living with hair loss due to all forms of alopecia. The entire CAP family is very sorry that this happened and our thoughts and prayers go out to Ryan's friends and family. Alopecia takes away self-esteem and being bullied is common for many. I hope others notice that and think twice when they make fun of someone that is the same on the inside as everyone else even though they may look different. Jeff Woytovich, Founder www.childrensalopeciaproject.org

Compassion and Tolerance. That's what this society is missing today. Kimistry is right. A child like Ryan has to deal with more today than I could ever imagine as a kid. I feel so sorry for him and the way he was treated. I can only hope that our educators will use this as a learning example of how to teach our children about living together.

My heart goes out to his family, they send their child off to school to get an education and he never comes home. May this tragedy help bring about stiffer laws about bullying and treating other children badly because they are different, I feel schools should take an hour out of the school day to teach compassion and tolerance towards ones classmates, what makes that child that shot Ryan God where he can choose who lives and who dies just because of the way they look and take hm from his family. Ryan looked like a loving and misunderstood child who was never really given a chance at life. Ryan you are truly an Angel now!

Please accept my deepest sympathies. I send my prayers to his family.

This is unforgivable. You've had to deal with a lot Ryan and I am so sorry for it. You did not deserve to be treated harshly. You were such a great kid with a big heart and I will never forget that.