Kyren Lacy, a 24-year-old former LSU wide receiver and NFL draft prospect, was found dead in Houston on Saturday night, his attorney confirmed on Sunday. The New York Post reported that the suspected cause of death is suicide. Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death. The Houston Police Department referred all inquiries to the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, which has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Lacy had recently declared for the NFL Draft after completing his college football career at Louisiana State University. His death comes just days before a scheduled grand jury proceeding in Louisiana, where he faced potential charges stemming from a fatal car crash that occurred in December 2024.
According to police reports obtained by WAFB, Lacy was allegedly driving a 2023 Dodge Charger at a high speed along LA Highway 20 when he entered an oncoming traffic lane in a no-passing zone in order to overtake several vehicles. A truck traveling in the opposite direction reportedly swerved to avoid Lacy’s vehicle, triggering a multi-car collision behind it.
One of the vehicles involved in the crash carried 78-year-old Herman Hall, a former U.S. Marine, who was critically injured and later died at a nearby hospital. Lacy was accused of fleeing the scene without offering aid or contacting emergency services. Police alleged that he drove around the crash site and continued traveling southbound, leaving the incident unreported.
Lacy was under investigation for charges including negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run resulting in death, and reckless operation of a vehicle. Although these charges were being reviewed, the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s office had not formally indicted him. A grand jury was set to hear evidence in the case beginning Monday.
JUST IN: Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy dies by su*cide at 24, just days before his court date for negligent hom*cide
Lacy was arrested on January 13 after a warrant was issued over a December 17 car crash that k*lled 78-year-old U.S Marine veteran Herman Hall in Louisiana… pic.twitter.com/wklXAp29hy
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) April 13, 2025
In a statement issued Sunday to WAFB-TV, Lacy’s attorney maintained that his client had not been formally charged and that the defense team was confident that the evidence would have led to a decision not to indict. The attorney criticized the investigation, characterizing it as disproportionately aggressive due to Lacy’s public profile.
“Kyren 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,” the attorney stated. “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 attorney further noted that Lacy had not yet been formally charged and described the decision to bring the case before a grand jury as “disturbing.”
Lacy transferred to LSU from the University of Louisiana in 2022 and played two seasons with the Tigers. He led LSU in touchdown receptions during the 2024 season and caught 58 passes overall. Despite not participating in LSU’s Texas Bowl victory over Baylor on December 31, 2024, Lacy remained a potential NFL Draft prospect and participated in LSU’s pro day on March 26.
He was listed just outside the top 100 in CBS Sports’ 2024 NFL Draft Prospect rankings. Some analysts rated him higher, viewing him as a mid-to-late-round pick with potential to contribute at the professional level.
As of Sunday evening, LSU and the NFL had not released statements regarding Lacy’s death. Further details are expected pending official findings from the Harris County Medical Examiner.
