Former LSU WR Kyren Lacy's death ruled apparent suicide during car chase

Further details have emerged on the death of former LSU receiver Kyren Lacy. Lacy was found dead Saturday night in Houston after an apparent suicide during a car chase.

According to a Harrison County sheriff’s report released on Sunday and obtained by ESPN, Lacy was being pursued by authorities at the time of his death. The chase occurred late Saturday night and ended with Lacy’s vehicle crashing.

When officers approached the vehicle to remove Lacy from the car, they found he had already died in an apparent suicide by gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.

Officers had been initially dispatched when a female family member reported a verbal altercation with Lacy that ended with Lacy firing a gun into the ground. Lacy then fled in his car, with police later picking up pursuit.

Kyren Lacy was 24 years old. On Sunday, LSU released a statement regarding his death.

“We’re saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former LSU Football student-athlete Kyren Lacy,” the statement read, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.”

Lacy was facing charges of felony hit-and-run and reckless driving at the time of his death. He was reportedly cooperating with police and was out on bond after paying a $151,000 bail following his Jan. 12 arrest, according to a report from WAFB.

According to the initial police report reviewed by WAFB, Kyren Lacy was driving a 2023 Dodge Charger on Louisiana Highway 20 and “recklessly passed multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed by crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated No-Passing Zone.”

At that point, a northbound driver in a pickup truck abruptly hit the breaks and swerved to avoid a head-on-collision with Lacy’s Dodge Charger, forcing a Kia Cadenza that was behind the pickup to swerve left, crossing the centerline and hitting a southbound Kia Sorrento head-on, according to the police report via WAFB.

A passenger in the Kia Sorrento, Herman Hall of Thibodaux, was critically injured and later died at a local hospital, according to investigators. A grand jury was scheduled begin hearing evidence in the case on Monday.

In addition to the statement LSU released on Sunday, Kyren Lacy’s father also posted a heartfelt and tragic message on social media. It read:

“Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you. Don’t be cool with ‘I’m alright’ or ‘I’m good’ when you know deep down something isn’t right,” Kenny Lacy’s Facebook message began. “Mental health is real, and for the most part, it’s invisible, don’t ignore the signs, even if they may seem small.

“Our lives have changed forever and this will never be OK, but God needed my baby more than he was needed here,” the message continued. “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. This will never get easier, but we’ll learn to live with it. Check on your kids’ mental (health)!”

On3’s Alex Byington and Grant Grubbs also contributed to this report.