Kyren Lacy’s passing is a tragedy that is difficult to move on from. He was mourned by his own family and his LSU brothers, who shared a great bond with him in the three years that he spent in Baton Rouge. At 24, he had a world of opportunities lying ahead of him in life after being part of a stellar WR team at LSU. The weeks before his death—the traffic collision that led to his arrest and his arrest thereafter—took a toll on the young athlete to the extent that it led to his death. His mother, Kandace Washington, is coming out as a beacon of strength despite facing such a harrowing loss.

Lacy was looking to go as a promising prospect in the 2025 draft. However, the news of his death broke just two weeks before D-Day. The WR’s life took a turn after he was involved in a car accident, which killed a senior citizen. According to the police, Lacy fled the scene without calling for help. He eventually turned himself in and posted bail the very same day. 4 months later, Lacy died by suicide, after some harrowing events recorded by the police. His mother, Kandace Washington, a school counselor, is now opening up about the accusations her son faced.

She believes that the car crash and the events that led up to his death “pushed things over the edge.” She told WAFB Channel 9, “People go through things, you know. They make mistakes. They make wrong decisions. Everybody has. The only difference with my son is, everybody knew who he was.” On the night Lacy died, he was involved in a serious argument. He was chased by the police and ultimately crashed his car. There, they found him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Also, Lacy was set to appear before a grand jury 2 days after the fatal incident happened.

Washington is now using Lacy’s story to help other kids who come to her. This is not the first time she has seen a suicide in the family. When Washington was a young child, her father also took died by suicide. She said that she focuses on trying to help children who suffer from mental health issues.

“Just give them some hope, give them some light at the end of the tunnel. I can share it, you know, from both perspectives. ‘Cause at one point, it took me almost 40 years to even understand what my dad was going through… Took me over 40 years to just really have empathy. The weight of the world is sometimes is a lot. And so, now, that I’m experiencing it with Kyren, again, I just have so much empathy,” she said.

Kyren Lacy’s loss shook college football and hit Baton Rouge especially hard. His death affected Jayden Daniels, his good friend and former QB. Daniels shared a heartwarming video featuring himself, Malik Nabers, and Lacy when the former two were drafted. The QB wrote, “u f—– me up w this one 2, it was yo turn next year bro, we was finna be there right with I swear.” Lacy was a star WR and a local hero for his community. Back home, his high school made a heartfelt gesture to honor his legacy.

Thibodaux High’s heartfelt tribute has Kyren Lacy’s mom in tears

Washington was invited to Thibodaux High’s 4 Annual Alumni Picnic. She was brought on to the stage by rapper Boosie, who shared some words about Lacy. The crowd shared some moments of silence in the late WR’s memory and, afterward, cheered and chanted for their much-loved ‘2’. Washington couldn’t help but turn emotional and shed tears, while the crowd chanted louder and louder. The school also painted a mural on one of its walls, depicting Lacy in his LSU colors.

“Thank you so much to my city for all the love shown to @kyrenlacy_2 for the Thibodaux High Alumni Weekend! […] Thank you to @torencehatch1g (Boosie) for taking a moment to show love for Kyren on your wall and during your show!! Still a long road of healing ahead but it’s moments like this that help us all heal a little more! […] We love you forever Kyren Pierre Lacy!!” Washington wrote on Instagram, sharing visuals from the event. Among them were some heartbreaking visuals of Lacy’s trophies and awards placed around his grave, which showed the legacy he leaves behind. QB Garrett Nussmeier also showed his support by dropping a heart emoji in the comments.

Kyren Lacy’s death is a reminder for everyone to approach issues like these sensitively. Mental health is a crucial aspect of one’s well-being and should be taken care of just as one does for their physical health. As Washington relies on her son’s passing to encourage others in their journeys, she knows that her son was a Louisiana star and loved by those he left an impact on.