Kyren Lacy was an LSU wide receiver who accumulated almost 1,700 yards from 2022 through 2024 and had an impressive nine touchdown catches in his final year. He tied for the most touchdown catches in the SEC. Lacy was scheduled to participate in the Senior Bowl after the 2024 season as an NFL Draft showcase. He sadly passed away at the young age of 24 on April 12, 2025, in Houston.
So, what led up to the death of Kyren Lacy?
Around noon on December 17, 2024, a Kia Cadenza crossed a centerline on a state highway. The Kia Cadenza hit a Kia Sorento head-on, instantly killing a passenger in the Sorento, a 78-year-old veteran named Herman Hall. Lacy was not driving any of those cars, but his green Dodge Charger was spotted at the scene and did not pull over. According to the Louisiana State Police, Lacy was driving 88 mph in a 40 mph zone as he passed the cars, but was back in the correct lane when the accident occurred. They stated his driving triggered the chain reaction that caused the crash. A nearby gas station had surveillance footage that depicted Lacy driving past multiple vehicles on the wrong side of the road. A few other witnesses informed police that they thought Lacy was driving at least 80 mph. A Ford pick-up truck driver who was heading north said they saw Lacy’s charger speeding into his lane. Behind that pick-up truck was the Kia Cadenza. The driver claimed she had to maneuver her car to the left to avoid a head-on crash with the rapidly approaching vehicle, which was Lacy’s Dodge Charger. The state police investigation determined that Lacy’s reckless driving behavior forced the other cars to react in the way that they did. A warrant for his arrest was put out on January 8th, and Lacy turned himself in to the authorities. As reported by the New York Times, he was arrested on allegations of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle. He was released on bail.
The aftermath
In April of 2025, a family member called 911 about an outburst by Lacy. This led to an immediate police pursuit. Nothing could be done to save him as he was found dead in his car near Houston. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science ruled his death a suicide with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. This occurred in his vehicle during a pursuit by authorities. The official LSU account shared on their social media a black-and white collage of Lacy with the text, “Kyren Lacy. 2000 – 2025.” With a caption that read, “The LSU Football family mourns the loss of Kyren Lacy.” LSU released another statement, which stated, “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 and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.” The heartbroken WNBA star, Angel Reese, made a statement via X, “Mental health is real. Check on your people! You never know what someone is going through!” From the Philadelphia Eagles, wide receiver AJ Brown wrote via X, “Men check up on each other in the group chat. Need to normalize this.” Ryan Clark, an ESPN analyst and former LSU safety, announced on the network’s “Monday Night Football” coverage that “Kyren Lacy was innocent and Kyren Lacy should be here with us.”
Further into the investigation
Lacy’s attorney, Matthew Ory, and state police noted that around noon on December 17, 2024, Lacy was in fact driving southbound on Louisiana Highway 20 in his green Dodge Charger and was passing vehicles in a no-passing zone right before the collision. However, his car never collided with another car. Lacy had completely passed the accident scene and continued along the highway. Newly released police body cam footage from early October changed everything in the case. The body cam showcased a police officer telling a witness to state on the police report that, “You had to slam on your brakes to avoid that charger, and the brakes locked up to avoid that charger. “ The witness then says, “The lady behind me caused the wreck,” to the officer. The witnesses’ faces were blurred on the video. Yet, the body cam proved that police officers were tampering with the evidence to make it seem like Kyren Lacy’s green Charger was the cause of the whole crash. After the footage was released, Lacy’s defense attorney, Matt Ory, gave an extended interview with a local Louisiana TV station to discuss the case. Ory stated that an investigation by the Lafourche Parish district attorney’s office discovered that Lacy was in his lane almost 73 yards behind the other cars at the time of the collision. Ory asserted the words, “Lacy was behind the vehicles…Keyword: behind the vehicles…This is not how this story was painted, ever.” According to Ory, Kyren Lacy was on his way to a football practice and failed to stop, “Because he didn’t think he caused the accident. He did not cause the accident.” The investigation by the District Attorney’s office remarked that Lacy was driving 88 mph as he passed cars, but he was still in the correct lane at the time of the accident. The review also cited several inconsistencies in the Louisiana State Police report, which included an incorrect claim that Lacy was actively passing cars when the crash happened.
My opinion on the case
The death of Kyren Lacy is incredibly tragic. I can’t even fathom the guilt he had to carry, which caused him to take his own life. It’s truly upsetting because he was so young and was made to think he caused the death of an innocent soul. Kyren Lacy deserved a fair investigation! Accountability is not one-sided and if they demnded it from him, why shouldn’t we demand it from the system as well. He deserves the world, and I’m saddened by how the events turned out. My heart goes out to his family and friends as they navigate through this difficult situation. May he rest in peace.
Sources:
- La. State Police: Kyren Lacy’s operation of car set off events that caused fatal crash
- Kyren Lacy crash: What to know about newly released police footage
