HOUSTON – Former LSU star wide receiver Kyren Lacy has died at age 24, according to his lawyer and school officials.
Lacy died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday night in Houston, according to Harris County police. The case is being investigated as a probable suicide and the review of the incident is active and ongoing.
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Lacy was in an argument with a family member and discharged a gunshot into the ground, according to police. When his vehicle was spotted, attempts to pull him over led to a chase from police for several miles before his car crashed in the Aldine Westfield neighborhood. Before deputies could arrest Lacy, they realized he was deceased and he was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Preliminary reports indicated, per police, that Lacy shot himself during the chase before the vehicle crashed, with a handgun recovered from the interior of the vehicle. An autopsy will be conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Lacy, a former highly regarded NFL draft prospect, was facing negligent homicide charges along felony hit and run and reckless operation from a vehicle stemming from an accident in Louisiana last year in Lafourche Parish. A grand jury was scheduled to review the case Monday.
Lacy was accused of causing a crash that killed 78-year-old military veteran Herman Hall in December and fleeing the scene without rendering aid. He was free on $151,000 bail.
“We’re saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former LSU football student-athlete Kyren Lacy,” LSU said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.”
Kenny Lacy, Lacy’s father, wrote about his son on social media.
“Our lives have changed forever and this will never be ok, but God needed my baby more than he was needed here,” Kenny Lacy wrote. “This has to be the biggest pill our families have had to swallow but I know the love and compassion in our families will get us through.”
His lawyer issued the following statement:
“It is with profound sorrow that we confirm the tragic passing of Kyren Lacy. First and foremost, we ask that the public and the media give his family the space and time they need to grieve this imaginable loss in peace.
The LSU Football family mourns the loss of Kyren Lacy pic.twitter.com/Me2GBZ6Ao8
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) April 13, 2025
Kyren 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.
From the very beginning, this so-called investigation took on the appearance of an overzealous, targeted effort—what can only be described as a witch hunt—fueled by who Kyren was and the public profile he carried. The decision by the investigating agency to charge him at all, in our view, was not only unjustified, it was disturbing. It’s imperative to understand the Lafourche Parish District Attorney, to this day, has not formally charged Kyren.
Kyren was a young man with immense promise, and he was crushed under the weight of an irresponsible and prejudiced process. 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. 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.
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.
In the meantime, we again urge everyone to respect the Lacy family’s privacy and allow them the dignity to mourn the loss of their beloved son."
Lacy, a transfer from Louisiana, tried out for NFL scouts at the Tigers’ annual Pro Day attended by all 32 teams. His 40-yard dash time was 4.50 seconds and he had a 36-inch vertical leap. He wasn’t invited to the NFL scouting combine due to his legal issues.
According to a police report, Lacy was accused of “recklessly passed multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed by crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated no-passing zone.”
“As Lacy was illegally passing the other vehicles, the driver of a northbound pickup truck abruptly braked and swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision with the approaching Dodge,” a Louisiana State Police news release said.
“Traveling behind the pickup was a 2017 Kia Cadenza whose driver swerved left to avoid the oncoming Dodge Charger. As the Kia Cadenza took evasive action to avoid impact with the Dodge, it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento.”
His agent, Rocky Arcenaux, previously issued a statement that Lacy was “fully cooperating” with law enforcement authorities.
Hall didn’t play in the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium after the incident and he declared for the NFL draft.
He caught 58 passes for 866 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
A transfer from Louisiana, Lacy finished his college career with 162 career receptions for 2,360 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
