What Happened to Former LSU Football Star Kyren Lacy? Inside the Tragic Details
Kyren Lacy was a standout college wide receiver at Louisiana State University with many predicting that he was eventually headed for the NFL.
Updated April 14 2025, 11:22 a.m. ET
The sports world is filled with victorious moments and inspirational stories, but for every heart-warming journey there are also tragic tales and trajectories — such as what happened to former college football star Kyren Lacy.
Kyren, a Louisiana native, was a standout college wide receiver at Louisiana State University with many predicting that he was eventually headed for the NFL after he announced plans to declare for the 2025 Draft.
What happened to Kyren Lacy?
On Saturday, April 12, Kyren was found dead in his car in Houston, Texas, in an apparent suicide while being pursued by local authorities, according to ESPN.
Per Harris County authorities, they responded to a call from a family member who told them that Kyren discharged a firearm during a verbal altercation — when they arrived at the home, they were informed that Kyren had already left in his vehicle, the outlet said.
Local police went to pursue Kyren resulting in a high-speed chase when he crashed his vehicle. As police approached the vehicle to remove Kyren, they discovered that he died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, per ESPN. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and pronounced Kyren dead.
What were Kyren’s legal issues before his death?
On Jan. 10, 2025, an arrest warrant for Kyren was issued by Louisiana State Police for multiple charges that stemmed from the head-on collision that killed a 78-year-old veteran in December 2024, according to ESPN. Per authorities, Kyren fled the scene after the crash without calling police or emergency responders.
He turned himself in to authorities on Jan. 12 and was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run with death, and reckless operation of a vehicle by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office, per ESPN.
On Monday, April 14, Kyren’s attorney, Matthew Ory, said that a grand jury was set to hear Kyren’s charges. “Kyren’s was scheduled to have his matter heard before a grand jury tomorrow wherein we were very confident the evidence, after being fully collected and reviewed, would lead to a declination of charges,” Matthew said, per NBC Sports.
Kyren’s attorney has vowed to seek justice for his client even in death.
“Kyren was a young man with immense promise, and he was crushed under the weight of an irresponsible and prejudiced process,” Matthew said, according to NBC Sports.
“The negative barrage on social media, the circulation of his mugshot by nearly every news outlet rather than a standard photo, the recent civil lawsuit filed against him that named another defendant who mysteriously wasn’t charged with a crime, only him, and the overall tone of coverage painted a deeply biased picture before he ever had the chance to defend himself,” he continued.
“There was never a presumption of innocence which was exemplified by the NFL pulling his draft card over mere accusations without affording him the slightest chance to defend himself. The pressure and perception likely became unbearable,” Matthew said.
“Let us be absolutely clear: This is far from over. We will be demanding a full and transparent review of how this investigation was conducted and why. Those responsible for this gross miscarriage of justice must and will be held accountable,” he added.
What has Kyren’s family said about his death?
Kyren’s father, Kenny Lacy, shared a message on Facebook mere hours after the death of his son. “Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you. Don't be cool with, ‘I'm Alright, or I'm good’ when you know deep down something isn't right,” he wrote.
“Mental Health is real, and for the most part, it's invisible, don't ignore the signs, even if they may seem small," his father continued. “Our lives have changed forever, and this will never be OK, but God needed my baby more than he was needed here.”
Kyren’s former school, LSU, also spoke out publicly about the late wide receiver for the Tigers. “We’re saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former LSU football student-athlete Kyren Lacy,” LSU said in a statement, per the Associated Press. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.”