The department said in a statement that it responded about 10:39 p.m. Central time Wednesday to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety “with locating a vehicle that had evaded troopers during a pursuit that entered the city of Frisco. After losing visual of the vehicle, troopers located it minutes later, crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.”
According to police, “initial reports” said Kneeland “fled the scene on foot.” Officers established a perimeter and conducted a search aided by K-9 and drone units, police said. They found Kneeland’s body at 1:31 a.m. Thursday, according to the police statement, which added: “During the course of the search, officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations.”
Police said no further details would be released pending the “ongoing” investigation and the official cause of death will be determined by the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Cowboys’ training facility is in Frisco. Police identified Kneeland as a resident of Plano.
The vehicle pursuit began at about 10:33 p.m. Wednesday when troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on the Dallas North Tollway and the driver of the vehicle refused to stop, the Dallas Morning News reported.
According to police dispatch audio obtained and released by the Morning News, authorities said they were speaking with Kneeland’s girlfriend around 11:30 p.m. She told police he had a history of mental illness. The girlfriend, who was not identified on the audio, told authorities Kneeland was armed and “he will end it all,” according to the police dispatch recording.
According to the recording, the girlfriend was attempting to contact Kneeland’s agent, and authorities were trying to get her to contact Kneeland.
Around 11:45, police issued guidance to “be careful” and search for Kneeland in pairs because he was armed, the Morning News reported. Around 11:55, police said they were in contact with the NFL, which indicated Kneeland had texted his family goodbye, according to the Morning News.
The Plano Police Department said Thursday in a statement issued through a spokesman that it received a request from the Frisco police at around 11 p.m. Wednesday to attempt to contact the registered owner of a vehicle associated with Kneeland’s address.
“The vehicle had reportedly crashed in Frisco following a pursuit involving the Texas Department of Public Safety,” the Plano police said, adding that its officers “were unable to make contact at the residence.”
At 11:40 p.m., the Plano police said, its officers “responded to a separate call for a welfare concern at the same address, associated with Mr. Kneeland. Again, no contact was made with anyone at the residence.”
The Cowboys did not provide details about Kneeland’s death earlier Thursday.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said in a written statement. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Kneeland was chosen by the Cowboys in the second round of last year’s NFL draft out of Western Michigan University.
He played in 18 games and started four of them for the Cowboys over the past two seasons. Kneeland scored a touchdown by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone during the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss Monday night to the Arizona Cardinals in Arlington, Texas.
The Cowboys are on their bye this week and don’t play again until a Nov. 17 road game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” the NFL said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”
Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas wrote on social media that he was sick to “my stomach.”
One of Kneeland’s representatives, agent Jonathan Perzley, said in a statement to the NFL Network that he was “shattered to confirm” Kneeland’s death.
“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” Perzley said. “Marshawn 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. My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time.”
The NFL Players Association said it was “working to ensure that players have the support they need.”
Kneeland’s family said in a statement to the Morning News that it was “devastated by this tremendous loss” and it was “still processing the depth of our grief.” The family also said: “His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.”
Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito, who was Kneeland’s position coach and defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, said in an emailed statement that he “just talked the other day” to Kneeland and congratulated him on his touchdown Monday night.
“I am crushed at this moment and my heart and the hearts of Marshawn’s family, teammates and coaches are shattered,” Esposito said. “Marshawn Kneeland meant a great deal to me and I have so many fond memories of growing with him throughout my time as his coach. We were planning to get together this weekend during his visit back home. Today’s news is absolutely devastating.”
