The Louisiana State University football program is mourning the loss of an alum.
Kyren Lacy, a former wide receiver for LSU, died in an apparent suicide in his car April 12 while being pursued by authorities in Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s office said in a release April 13, per ESPN. He was 24.
Authorities received a call from a female family member of Lacy on the evening of April 12, who told police that Lacy had fired a gun into the ground during a verbal argument that night, Harris County authorities told ESPN. After police arrived, they were told the former football player had fled the scene in a vehicle. E! News was able to confirm Lacy’s April 12 death after obtaining a report by a medical examiner.
Police later found Lacy in his car, which had crashed and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The LSU alum appears to have died by an apparent suicide, ESPN reported, citing law enforcement.
E! News has reached out to Harris County Sheriff’s office regarding Lacy’s death but has not yet heard back.
Shortly after Lacy’s death, LSU—where Lacy had played for three seasons—shared a note on social media, writing, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.”
Lacy’s father, Kenny Lacy, also shared an emotional social media post mourning his son.
“Our lives have changed forever and this will never be ok, but God needed my baby more than he was needed here,” he wrote in an April 13 Facebook post. “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. This will never get easier, but we’ll learn to live with it.”
His note also included emphasis on checking in on kids’ mental health.
“Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you,” he wrote. “Don’t be cool with ‘I’m Alright,’ or ‘I’m good’ when you know deep down something isn’t right. Mental Health is real, and for the most part, it’s invisible, don’t ignore the signs, even if they may seem small.”
