Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy tragically passed away on Saturday night in Houston, with officials confirming his death as an apparent suicide. The 24-year-old was found deceased inside his car after crashing while being pursued by law enforcement. According to the sheriff’s report, when authorities approached the vehicle to remove him following the crash, they discovered Lacy had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This devastating incident occurred just days before Lacy was scheduled to appear before a Louisiana grand jury regarding a car crash he was allegedly involved in late last year. That crash tragically resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man, and Lacy had been facing charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle. While the situation surrounding the pending charges appeared serious, Lacy’s attorney, Matt Ory, spoke out publicly to clarify that the wide receiver was not in as much legal jeopardy as many may have assumed. Ory revealed that based on inside knowledge of the case, Lacy was unlikely to face major legal consequences and still had a real opportunity to continue pursuing his dream of playing in the NFL.
The heartbreaking reality is that even if the original case was trending in Lacy’s favor, his attempt to flee police on Saturday likely would have led to an arrest, further complicating his situation just days before the NFL Draft. Nevertheless, those close to him believed there was still a path forward — one that sadly, Lacy will now never get the chance to walk.
In the aftermath of his passing, Kyren Lacy’s father, Kenny Lacy, took to social media to offer a raw and emotional statement about the tragedy. In a powerful post on Facebook, he encouraged parents everywhere to create open lines of communication with their children. “Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you,” Kenny Lacy wrote. “Don’t be cool with ‘I’m Alright, or I’m good’ when you know deep down something isn’t right.”
Kyren Lacy had been a standout at LSU and was working toward realizing his dream of playing professionally, preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft. His death sent shockwaves through the football community, with tributes and heartbreaking final messages from teammates and friends surfacing as many mourned the loss of a young man with so much promise.
As new details continue to emerge, one thing is clear: Kyren Lacy’s story is a painful reminder of the mental health battles that often go unseen, and the importance of reaching out and offering support to those who may be struggling behind the scenes.
