The sudden loss of a young athlete sparked a father’s grief — and a heartfelt plea for parents to look more closely at their children’s hidden struggles.

After the death of his son, Kyren Lacy, Kenny Lacy took to Facebook to urge parents to be

more present

in their children’s emotional lives. He encouraged families to build trust early, so kids feel safe speaking up when something doesn’t feel right.

He

cautioned

parents not to accept surface-level responses like “I’m alright” or “I’m good” when deeper issues may be present. Kenny emphasized that mental health struggles are often “invisible,” and warned against ignoring small but telling signs.

He

described

the loss of his son as something that would never feel “okay,” calling it the hardest moment his family has faced. Still, he expressed hope that their love and compassion would help them carry the weight of grief. He ended with a

plea

that resonated far beyond his immediate community, “Check on your kids mental!!!!!!!!!!! [sic]”

Kenny’s emotional message came after Kyren, a 24-year-old Louisiana State University (LSU) wide receiver, was

found dead

on the night of Saturday, April 12, in Houston. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, he died from an apparent

self-inflicted gunshot wound

following a police pursuit.

The Harris County Constable’s Office said a family member had called earlier that evening after Kyren reportedly fired a gun into the ground. By the time deputies arrived, Kyren had left.

Officers later attempted a traffic stop, but Kyren fled. The chase ended in a crash, where deputies found him inside with a fatal gunshot wound and a handgun. Investigators believe he shot himself before the crash.

At the time of his death, Kyren faced multiple charges related to a

December 17 crash

in Louisiana that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall. Police said Kyren drove recklessly, caused the collision, and fled the scene.

He turned himself in on January 12 and was released on $151,000 bond. A grand jury was scheduled to review the case the following Monday.

Despite the legal troubles, Kyren had declared for the National Football League (NFL) Draft just two days after the crash. He was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but participated in LSU’s Pro Day in March.

Kyren transferred to LSU from Louisiana and led the Tigers last season with 58 catches for 866 yards and nine touchdowns.

As previously reported, Kyren’s death devastated not only his family but also the athlete’s attorney and close friends

. Initially, an LSU official

confirmed his death

on Sunday, April 13. At the time, authorities had not released an official cause of death, though a source said it was being investigated as a

suspected suicide

.

Kyren’s lawyer later

released

a blistering statement following his death, condemning the investigation and media coverage as “an overzealous, targeted effort—what can only be described as a witch hunt.”

The statement emphasized that the Lafourche Parish District Attorney had not formally charged Kyren, and expressed confidence that the grand jury would have ultimately declined to indict him.

“Kyren was a young man with immense promise, and he was crushed under the weight of an irresponsible and prejudiced process,” the statement

read

. The lawyer also criticized the media for widely circulating Kyren’s mugshot instead of standard photos, calling the move part of a broader pattern of biased portrayal.

The emotional statement pointed to the NFL’s decision to pull Kyren’s draft card amid the allegations, arguing that he had been denied the presumption of innocence. “The pressure and perception likely became unbearable,” the lawyer

concluded

, adding that a full review of the investigation will be demanded.

The sportsman’s friend, Rontrell Sandolph, shared a deeply emotional Instagram post just hours after the news broke. “I’m so lost for words. I’m speechless,” he

wrote

alongside a photo of the two, laughing together with their arms around each other.

Rontrell’s tribute recalled their dreams of playing professionally — Kyren in the NFL, and Rontrell overseas. “We talked and cried and laughed it off everyday bro!!!” he

recalled

. The devastated friend can’t believe the news,

asking

, “why would u leave me bro?” He

concluded

his message, “I’ll be fine but give me some time bro 💔💔💔💔💔😭😭😭.”

While Kyren’s death devastated his friends and family,

another young athlete’s life was also tragically cut short just two weeks earlier.

On the morning of April 2, 2025, 17-year-old Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed during a high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Police responded around 10 a.m. after reports of a confrontation between two students that escalated into violence.

According to Frisco Police,

the incident resulted in serious injuries to Austin, who was initially reported as 16 years old. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures, including CPR and the administration of blood. Despite these efforts, he died at the scene.

Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf,

shared

that the altercation stemmed from the attacker being told he was in the wrong location. Jeff said his son did not know the student who stabbed him.

His twin brother, Hunter, witnessed the incident and tried to save him. “They were twins, identical twins, and his brother was holding on to him, trying to make it stop bleeding, and he died in his brother’s arms,” Jeff

said.

The devastated father further

stated

that he rushed to the stadium after hearing the news. He saw his son on a gurney, unresponsive, and described the extent of the injuries. “They said he wasn’t breathing. I could see all the blood, and I saw where the wound was… we prayed, and it’s God’s plan, I don’t understand it, but they weren’t able to save him. This is murder.”

Austin was a high-achieving student with a 4.0 GPA and served as the MVP of his school’s football team. His father described him as a leader with plans to attend college. “He was on the right track,” Jeff

shared.

“He was loved by many. He was a leader.”

Jeff

questioned

the upbringing of the student who attacked his son. “I’m not trying to judge, but what kind of parents did this child have? What was he taught? He brought a knife to a track meet and he murdered my son by stabbing him in the heart.”

Despite the tragedy, Jeff

expressed forgiveness.

“You know what, I already forgive this person. Already. God takes care of things. God is going to take care of me. God is going to take care of my family.”

Frisco Police confirmed that the suspect, also 17 years old, has been arrested and charged with murder. As of Wednesday, the suspect’s bond had not been set, and it remains unclear whether he has legal representation.

In an official statement, the Frisco Police Department

said,

“The Frisco Police Department grieves with all those affected by this devastating loss and extends its deepest condolences to the victim’s family, students, and staff who are experiencing unimaginable pain.”

The department added that it is working closely with the Frisco Independent School District to offer continued support.

The 11-5A championship district track meet, involving more than 100 students from eight schools, was immediately suspended following the incident. The stadium was secured, and all students were sent back to their campuses. No additional injuries were reported.

Authorities have not disclosed the exact location of the stadium where the stabbing occurred. However, officers were observed investigating a section of the stands near the track. Frisco Police stated that the investigation is ongoing.

As the investigation continues, the Metcalf family is receiving an outpouring of support. As of this writing, a

GoFundMe campaign

organized by Jeff has raised over $340,000 toward a $370,000 goal, with more than 7,000 donations contributing so far.

In the post, Jeff

remembered

his son as a determined and passionate young man, “He was a bright young man with a great future ahead of him. He was a leader of men. His smile would light up the room… His commitment, dedication, leadership, and sheer grit made him rise to the level of success that he desired.”

Jeff also noted that Austin’s twin, Hunter, played football beside him and that the family would always remember the way Austin impacted others’ lives. “I love you forever, son. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. God will take care of us till we meet again. RIP. Love, Dad,” he

wrote.

Hunter also spoke publicly about the moment he tried to save his brother’s life. “I tried to whip around as fast as I could,” he

told

WFAA, tearfully recalling the incident. “I looked at my brother and I’m not going to talk about the rest. I tried to help him.”

He said he held Austin until first responders arrived and began resuscitation efforts. “It was really senseless,” Hunter

added.

“[Austin] did everything for our family. He was a strong man. He was a strong kid…”

Austin Metcalf

‘s death has left a lasting impact on his family, peers, and school community, as authorities work to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.