Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was driving more than 145 miles per hour in the moments before he crashed, fled and took his own life in Frisco, according to records obtained Friday by The Dallas Morning News.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Preston Hagaman first spotted the 24-year-old’s black Charger shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 near Dallas North Tollway and Frankford Road, according to an incident report. As the trooper began following, he said he observed Kneeland making several unsafe lane changes as he passed vehicles on the tollway.
Kneeland began reaching speeds “higher than 145 miles per hour,” the report states, before he took the exit for Headquarters Drive.
As Kneeland drove rapidly through an intersection, Hagaman began a pursuit with lights and the siren but soon lost sight of the vehicle near Lebanon Road, according to the report. The trooper ended his pursuit and requested the North Texas Tollway Authority attempt to locate Kneeland’s vehicle using surveillance cameras.
Crime in The News
Kneeland’s Charger was then located heading southbound on the Dallas Parkway before it struck another vehicle, lost control and crashed in a grassy field.
Kneeland then ran south towards several businesses. An empty holster was found in his car, the report said.
Police have said Kneeland was found in a portable restroom about 1:30 a.m., dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick out of Western Michigan in the 2024 NFL draft. In nearly two seasons, he played in 18 games with four starts, compiling 26 tackles and one sack.
His last game was just days before he died. After linebacker Sam Williams blocked a punt with his face mask, Kneeland outran Williams and wide receiver Ryan Flournoy into the end zone to dive on the ball for the touchdown, the first of his NFL career.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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