The agent representing the late Kyren Lacy blasted the NFL on Friday for its treatment of the draft prospect prior to his death by suicide.
At the time of his death last weekend, Lacy was facing negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle charges related to a car accident in Chackbay, La., on Dec. 17, 2024, that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall. He turned himself in the following month and was out of jail on $151,000 bail.
A grand jury was scheduled to hear evidence in the Lacy case last Monday.
With the legal case pending, the NFL did not invite Lacy to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, though the wide receiver did work out for teams at LSU’s Pro Day on March 26.
Rocky Arceneaux, the CEO of Alliance Sports, had this to say on Friday:
“As stated by his attorney, there was a high probability the felony charge of negligent homicide would have been declined by a grand jury this past Monday. Kyren was heartbroken by the tragic loss of Mr. Hall. He was willing to adhere to any civil matters, regardless of the Grand Jury’s decision. That aside, the system failed us, and we are now mourning the loss of two lives.
“To the NFL, shame on you for revoking Kyren’s Combine invitation without acknowledgment or consideration of the facts. I urge you to re-evaluate your processes and provide athletes with the necessary due process before alienating them from their peers and dreams they’ve worked so hard for. Shame on the investigating agency for being more concerned about public perception — and pressure to charge someone — than actually investigate the facts.”
The NFL did not immediately respond to Arceneaux’s comments.
Lacy died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police chase in Texas last Saturday night, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday.
Police deputies said they got a call that Lacy, 24, had argued with a family member and shot a gun into the ground, FOX 26 Houston reported. Officials said they searched for Lacy after he fled the scene, leading to an attempt at a traffic stop. Instead, he led them on a car chase for several miles and crashed in Spring, Texas, authorities said.
When deputies removed Lacy from the car to take him into custody, they found him with the wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders, the sheriff’s office said.
Before the criminal matter, Lacy was projected to be among the first 50 players drafted. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference receiver in 2024, caught 58 passes for 866 yards and shared the SEC lead with nine touchdown receptions in 12 games.
He finished his collegiate career with 162 catches for 2,360 yards and 26 touchdowns in 64 games with Louisiana (2020-21) and LSU (2022-24).
–Field Level Media
