The father of former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy is urging parents to check in on their children’s mental health after losing his son to suicide. Lacy died during a police pursuit in Houston, days ahead of a scheduled grand jury hearing.
“Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you,” Kenny Lacy wrote in an emotional social media post. “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.”
Lacy, 24, died Saturday night after leading deputies on a police chase in Houston. According to investigators, Lacy had been involved in an argument with a family member and fired a gunshot into the ground before driving off. Deputies said he shot himself during the pursuit and was pronounced dead at the scene after his car crashed.
The case is being investigated as a probable suicide. A handgun was recovered from inside the vehicle, and an autopsy will be conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
“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… This will never get easier, but we’ll learn to live with it.”
Lacy was a former NFL Draft hopeful and LSU wide receiver who caught 58 passes for 866 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine due to legal issues stemming from a 2023 crash in Louisiana that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall. Lacy was facing multiple charges, including negligent homicide and felony hit-and-run. A grand jury was scheduled to review the case Monday.
His lawyer issued a strongly worded statement following his death, claiming Lacy was being unfairly targeted and that the weight of the legal process, media coverage, and social media scrutiny became unbearable.
“Kyren was a young man with immense promise, and he was crushed under the weight of an irresponsible and prejudiced process,” the statement said. “There was never a presumption of innocence.”
LSU also released a statement: “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 ended his message with a final plea: “Check on your kids’ mental!!!!!!!!!”
Start Here, Houston
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