FRISCO, Texas \u2013 Police in a Dallas suburb say 24-year-old Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead of an apparent suicide after evading authorities in his vehicle and fleeing the scene of an accident on foot.<\/p>\n
Frisco police said Thursday they are investigating the suicide. They said Kneeland didn’t stop for Texas Department of Public Safety troopers over a traffic violation in a chase that was joined by Frisco police on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Authorities lost sight of the vehicle before locating it crashed minutes later. During the search after Kneeland fled the crash site on foot, officers said they received word that Kneeland might be suicidal. <\/p>\n
As authorities were looking for Kneeland, a dispatcher told officers that people who knew him had received a group text from Kneeland \u201csaying goodbye. They\u2019re concerned for his welfare,\u201d according to recordings from Broadcastify, which archives public safety radio feeds. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re talking to the girlfriend. She\u2019s trying to call his agent. But we\u2019re trying to get her to call him first. But she\u2019s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness. And her quote was, \u2018He will end it all,\u2019\u201d another dispatcher told officers. <\/p>\n
He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound early Thursday morning, about three hours after the crash, police said without specifying where Kneeland’s body was found. In the recordings from Broadcastify, officers said they had tried to get in contact with Kneeland by calling and texting him and had used a drone to try and locate him after the crash. <\/p>\n
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EDITOR\u2019S NOTE \u2014 This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org<\/a>. Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at www.iasp.info\/suicidalthoughts<\/a>. ___<\/p>\n The Denver Broncos paid tribute to Kneeland with a moment of silence before their game Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders. The team also put his image on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n Kneeland’s death came just days after he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in a 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kneeland was in his second season with the Cowboys. He was a 2024 second-round draft pick out of Western Michigan.<\/p>\n \u201cI am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,\u201d Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, said in a statement that asked for privacy. \u201cMarshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.\u201d<\/p>\n Kneeland’s rookie season was off to a promising start before he was sidelined for five games by a knee injury.<\/p>\n