Kyren Lacy (Courtesy of LSU athletics)
Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy is dead at the age of 24.
He died in Houston. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Lacy got into an argument with a female relative and discharged a gun into ground and then fled the scene.
A Constable’s Office unit spotted Lacy 20 minutes later and a police pursuit ensued lasting several miles.
When Harris County Sheriff deputies caught up with him, Lacy had crashed his vehicle and he was dead inside. Investigators say a handgun was found in the vehicle.
Lacy was facing charges of negligent homicide and reckless operation of a vehicle for a fatal crash that happened last December near his hometown of Thibodaux.
State Police say Lacy was recklessly passing multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed on Louisiana Highway 20 and his driving caused a head-on crash that killed 78-year-old Herman Hill.
Lacy originally denied any involvement, but turned himself into authorities. A grand jury was set to hear his case on Monday.
Lacy was a standout receiver for the LSU Tigers and an NFL draft prospect. In 2024, he was named second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press as he caught 58 passes for 866 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, which tied for the most in the Southeastern Conference.
Lacy played for three seasons at LSU and his first two seasons were at University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
He was a terrific two-sport athlete at Thibodaux High School, helping Thibodaux win a state championship in boys basketball in 2019.
Lacy was preparing for the NFL draft. He did not receive an invite to the NFL draft combine because of the criminal charges pending against him.
Here is a statement from Lacy’s attorney, Matthew Ory:
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 unimaginable loss in peace.
Kyren’s 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.
LSU also released a statement Sunday.
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.
Lacy’s father, Kenny Lacy, took to social media to urge people to pay attention to their mental health and the mental health of others.
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