2025 NFL Draft hopeful Kyren Lacy died days before a grand jury was set to begin arguments over his alleged hit-and-run case.
News of Lacy’s death was confirmed by local Louisiana outlet WAFB 9 just one day before the hearing was scheduled to begin on April 14, 2025.
The former Louisiana State University wide receiver was arrested in December 2024 and charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless driving after authorities presumed he was involved in a fatal car accident that killed one individual and injured others.
Lacy was released on bond two days before declaring for the NFL Draft. He had maintained his innocence in the legal case.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the incident and legal case:
Car Accident
The Louisiana State Police alleged in December 2024 that Lacy was involved in a highway car crash that led to the death of an individual.
As Lacy was illegally passing the other vehicles, the driver of a northbound pickup truck abruptly braked and swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision with the approaching Dodge,” a press release read. “Traveling behind the pickup was a 2017 Kia Cadenza whose driver swerved left to avoid the oncoming Dodge Charger. As the Kia Cadenza took evasive action to avoid impact with the Dodge, it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento.”
At the time, Lacy’s agent, Rocky Arceneaux, told ESPN in a statement that his client was “fully cooperating with the authorities.”
Arrest
Lacy turned himself into the police following the car accident and was arrested on charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless driving. He was released on a $151,000 bond — two days before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Kyren Lacy’s Presumed Innocence
Lacy’s lawyer claimed in a February 2025 statement that the athlete was not involved in the crash.
“On the day of the accident, Mr. Lacy was driving on a road with two lanes, one in each direction. While he briefly passed other vehicles, he safely reentered his lane without incident,” attorney Matthew Ory said. “The collision that resulted in the death of [another driver] was not caused by Mr. Lacy’s actions. The accident occurred directly in front of him when a second vehicle in the oncoming lane crossed the centerline and collided with [the] vehicle, in which he was a passenger.”
According to Ory, Lacy only “cautiously went around the vehicles after passage was safe.”
“It is crucial to emphasize that Mr. Lacy did not cause or contribute to the crash. There was no suspicion of alcohol or drug use involved,” Ory added in his statement. “Furthermore, contrary to some media reports, Mr. Lacy never ‘returned’ to the scene of the accident. … He did not believe he was at fault for the accident, and as such, he continued with his daily activities. Throughout his career, Mr. Lacy has been an exemplary community member and teammate. We ask that he not be judged prematurely, and we are confident that further investigation will show he acted within the bounds of the law.”
Kyren Lacy’s Death
News broke one day before the grand jury hearing that Lacy had died at the age of 24. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
“Rest easy lil bro 🕊,” NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. wrote via Instagram Stories on April 13, 2025, sharing a photo of the pair in a locker room.
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