BATON ROUGE, La. (WVLA) — Former LSU standout wide receiver Kyren Lacy has died, school officials confirmed to Nexstar’s WVLA. He was 24.
The official did not provide any additional details to WVLA. Sources confirmed to The Athletic, ESPN, and NBC Sports that Lacy was found dead Saturday night in Houston.
His cause of death has not been released.
In a Facebook post Sunday morning, Lacy’s father, Kenny Lacy, said their “lives have changed forever and this will never be ok, but God needed my baby more than he was needed here.”
“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,” he wrote. “This will never get easier, but we’ll learn to live with it.”
Kenny Lacy also encouraged parents to “start talking to your kids at a very early age.”
“Mental Health [sic] is real, and for the most part, it’s invisible, don’t ignore the signs, even if they may seem small,” the post read.
Lacy, 24, who had been projected as a potential pick in this year’s NFL Draft, was previously involved in a December car crash that left an elderly man dead. The incident had cast uncertainty over his future in football and led to ongoing legal scrutiny.
Louisiana State Police accused Lacy of passing multiple vehicles in a no-passing zone and forcing two oncoming cars to swerve. According to investigators, the incident caused a head-on collision between two cars that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall, a passenger in one of the vehicles.
Lacy was also accused of driving around the crash and leaving without trying to help, calling 911, or reporting his involvement. Lacy’s attorney, Matthew Ory, said the former LSU wide receiver did not cause the crash as it happened in front of Lacy after another car crossed the centerline.
In February, Lacy denied causing the crash after turning himself in to Louisiana State Police. An arrest warrant for negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle had been issued for Lacy. He was later released after posting a $151,000 bail.
“Check on your people…” Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw wrote on social media while sharing a post about Lacy’s death.
The Thibodaux, Louisiana, native played at LSU for three years after spending a season with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. His final season was his best, catching 58 passes for 866 yards and nine touchdowns.
“The LSU Football family mourns the loss of Kyren Lacy,” the team posted to X on Sunday.
The post Kyren Lacy, former LSU receiver and NFL draft hopeful dies appeared first on KTLA.
