Body and dash cam footage from law enforcement officials have charted the events leading up to the death of Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland earlier this month.
The 24-year-old was found dead in the early morning hours of 6 November hours after being pursued by officers who had attempted a traffic stop in suburban Dallas. Police say Kneeland took his own life.
At first, authorities didn’t know the person they were pursuing on the evening of 5 November was Kneeland, initially believing the car he was driving had been stolen. After the driver abandoned the vehicle after a crash, authorities learned that the suspect was Kneeland. His family and friends feared he was in danger of harm as he had sent messages telling them goodbye. They reached out to authorities to locate him.
A trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) began chasing Kneeland’s car at 10.33pm that evening, according to an offense report. The trooper said Kneeland’s vehicle reached speeds higher than 145 mph but other troopers in body camera footage released by DPS said they believed the chase reached speeds of up to 160 mph.
The trooper lost Kneeland’s car but it was later found around 10.45pm after it had collided with a truck in Frisco, a suburb of Dallas. Troopers said Kneeland’s car was abandoned but they found an empty holster inside, leading them to believe the driver was armed. Troopers and officers didn’t know at that point who the suspect was, initially believing the vehicle might have been stolen.
At around 11.20pm, DPS troopers and Frisco police department officers were searching for Kneeland in a wooded area and a series of drainage tunnels under a sidewalk. “If you’re in this tunnel, I’m going to send my dog in here. He is going to bite you. This is your last opportunity,” the Frisco officer said.
Authorities later fired pepper balls into the tunnels and sent in a drone but did not find Kneeland inside.
By 1am on 6 November, authorities had learned the driver was Kneeland and they had briefly detained but not charged his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera. She had driven to the scene of the search area but initially hadn’t told authorities of her connection to Kneeland. Authorities later said Mancera worked with officers to find Kneeland.
In other footage, law enforcement officers, while searching the area, discussed that Kneeland was an NFL player and that he had texted goodbye to family members. About 30 minutes later, Kneeland’s body was located.
Mancera said in a Facebook post on Monday that she still thinks that Kneeland will walk through their front door.
“My sweet boy is really gone. The things that I would do just to hold you one more time and tell you how much you mean to me. But now I have you to watch over me and wait for me on the other side. I will see you again,” Mancera wrote.
The Cowboys have said that a memorial fund had been started to support Mancera, who is pregnant with the couple’s child.
His Cowboys teammates have paid tribute to the defensive end since his death. “We love Marshawn and will continue to shine a light for him. We’re blessed to carry his light forward,” said Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott last week.
In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.ie. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org