Baton Rouge, Louisiana — BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana State Police released video evidence in a Fatal car accident 2024 Authorities allege it was caused by the reckless driving of Kyren Lacey, the former Louisiana State University football star who committed suicide days before a grand jury was to convene to review the case.
The 11-minute video released Tuesday was in response to other footage that Matthew Urey, Lacey’s defense attorney, provided to a Louisiana television station, which he said showed the former wide receiver could not have caused the wreck because he was too far away from the collision. In a statement, Louisiana State Police defended their original findings that Lacey was responsible, urging the public to “rely on the full set of facts.”
The Louisiana Attorney General said this week that the case was still under review but confirmed that eyewitnesses had identified Lacey as the cause of the fatal accident in December. Democratic lawmakers in Louisiana called for an investigation and LSU coach Brian Kelly faced renewed questions about the case.
Here are some things to know.
In December 2024, Lacey was allegedly driving a green Dodge Charger “recklessly” — speeding and crossing into the oncoming lane of traffic to pass cars in a restricted zone, according to Louisiana State Police.
In an attempt to “avoid a collision” with Lacey, a driver swerved and collided head-on with another vehicle, police said. Herman Hall, 78, died in the accident.
Lacey “ran away” from the scene without stopping to render aid or call 911, police said.
The 24-year-old Lacy, who declared for the 2025 NFL draft, turned himself in to police and was booked on charges of negligent homicide, felony hit and run and reckless operation of a vehicle. He was released on bail.
Days before a grand jury hearing on his case in April, Lacey died of Apparent suicide After fleeing a traffic stop near Houston and being pursued by police, authorities said.
Nearly six months after Lacey’s death, his defense attorney on Friday went to a local news station in Houma, Louisiana, and presented what he says is evidence that the LSU wide receiver was too far removed from the deadly December wreck to be at fault.
Urey, who did not respond to emails seeking comment, acknowledged that Lacey had passed several cars but questioned how Lacey could be responsible for the accident that happened in front of him so far.
After Urey posted footage of the incident, Louisiana State Police released its own Tuesday’s special video. The agency detailed its findings, releasing a timeline, an accident report, interviews with witnesses at the scene and surveillance footage — where the collision can be heard and the Dodge Charger can be seen, but the wreckage itself is out of sight.
The narrator in the agency’s video said that state police “never reported” that the Charger “collided” with any of the vehicles involved.
“However, all of the evidence collected supports the conclusion that Lacey’s reckless operation of the green Charger into oncoming traffic set off a chain of events that included other drivers, ultimately leading to the fatal crash,” Al-Rawi said.
On Monday, the Louisiana Democratic Party called on the state’s Republican Attorney General Liz Morrell to launch a “thorough” investigation into the “false accusations against Mr. Lacey.”
In a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Morell said she was reviewing all the evidence in the case, but added that “the evidence is not in dispute.”
She said the Lafourche District Attorney’s Office was prepared to present evidence to a grand jury, which included showing that Lacey returned to his lane of travel while driving; “However, this does not absolve Keren Lacey of responsibility in this matter.”
Morrell said “each witness” identified Lacey’s green Dodge Charger as “set in motion the events” that led to the fatal crash. Morrell said she is continuing to review evidence provided by state police.
On Monday, LSU football coach Brian Kelly was asked about O’Ree’s comments.
“I thought this was a process that took time,” Kelly said. “I think I said when this happened, let’s wait until all the information comes out. For us to make these global statements this early doesn’t serve anyone well.”