• Kyren Lacy, former LSU wide receiver, died at 24 from an apparent suicide during a police chase in Houston.
• He was facing charges related to a fatal car accident that killed a 78-year-old man.
• Lacy's death has raised concerns about mental health among athletes.

Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy has died at the age of 24 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound while being pursued by authorities in Houston, Texas. This tragic incident occurred after Lacy fled from a domestic dispute where he reportedly fired a shot into the ground during an argument with a family member, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Lacy was later pursued by deputies, which ended when he crashed his vehicle. When officers approached, they discovered he had died from a self-inflicted wound, with a handgun recovered from his vehicle, as noted in a sheriff's report according to CBS News.

Eleven days prior to his death, Lacy was scheduled to appear before a grand jury regarding charges stemming from a fatal crash in Louisiana in December that resulted in the death of 78-year-old Herman Hall. Lacy had been allegedly driving recklessly when another motorist swerved to avoid him, leading to the tragic accident. He was booked on charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle, and subsequently released on bond, as reported by Newsweek.

His death has triggered an outpouring of grief across the sports community, with LSU acknowledging their sorrow in a statement: "We're saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former LSU Football student-athlete Kyren Lacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing," as stated on HuffPost.

Lacy's struggles appear to highlight significant mental health issues that athletes can face, especially in the high-pressure context of professional sports. His father, in a heartfelt message, urged parents to proactively engage with their children's mental health, recognizing the invisible nature of mental struggles, as reported by Al Jazeera.