Houston, TX – April 13, 2025
Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy, once a promising NFL Draft prospect, is dead at 24 after an apparent suicide during a police pursuit Saturday night in Houston, Texas.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Lacy fatally shot himself in his car after a brief chase with authorities responding to a domestic disturbance. A female family member called 911, reporting that Lacy had fired a gun into the ground during an argument. By the time officers arrived, he had fled the scene in a vehicle.
The chase ended in a crash. When deputies approached the wreckage, they found Lacy dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lacy’s death comes just one day before a Louisiana grand jury was scheduled to begin reviewing his role in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred last December. Lacy had been charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation after allegedly striking and killing a 78-year-old man, then fleeing the scene. He turned himself in weeks later and was released on $151,000 bail.
At the time of his death, Lacy was still facing those charges and was under investigation. His attorney, Matthew Ory, said Sunday that he believed the evidence would have cleared Lacy. “We were very confident this case would not have resulted in a conviction,” Ory said. He has now called for a full review of how the investigation and pursuit were handled.
Lacy declared for the NFL Draft just two days after the fatal crash in December but did not participate in LSU’s Texas Bowl appearance. Once ranked as a top-10 receiver prospect, Lacy’s draft stock plummeted amid legal troubles and uncertainty surrounding the case.
Despite the downward spiral, Lacy had just wrapped up a strong final season with the Tigers, recording 58 receptions for 866 yards and nine touchdowns. He had also participated in LSU’s pro day in March in hopes of reviving his NFL prospects.
LSU issued a statement expressing condolences: “We’re saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former LSU football student-athlete Kyren Lacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, and everyone affected by his loss.”
Lacy’s father, Kenny Lacy, also spoke out on social media, writing: “Our lives have changed forever and this will never be ok… But God needed my baby more than he was needed here.”
The tragedy highlights deeper issues surrounding mental health, especially in young athletes under extreme pressure. A young life, once full of promise, ended violently — a gut-wrenching reminder that behind the stats and headlines are people fighting battles we may never see.
