Lawyer of Kyren Lacy releases statement on death, demands full review of investigation, arrest

On Sunday, former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy was found dead. He was 24 years old. Lacy’s death is reportedly being considered a suicide, according to Baton Rouge TV station WBRZ.

Lacy, who was facing additional charges of felony hit-and-run and reckless driving, was reportedly cooperating with police and out on bond after paying a $151,000 bail following his Jan. 12 arrest, according to a report from WAFB. On Sunday, WAFB released a statement from Lacy’s lawyer on the NFL prospect’s death and impending court hearing.

“It is with profound sorrow that we confirm the tragic passing of Kyren Lacy,” the statement read. “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.”

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.

On3’s Alex Byington also contributed to this report.