Former LSU football star was found dead Saturday in Houston at the age of 24, and his father took to social media Sunday morning to share an emotional message.
Kenny Lacy , making an appeal to parents to check on their children and their mental health.
"Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you," Kenny Lacy said in a public post. "Don't be cool with 'I'm Alright, or I'm good' when you know deep down something isn't right. Mental Health is real, and for the most part, it's invisible, don't ignore the signs, even if they may seem small."
After he made his plea to parents, Kenny Lacy discussed how he and his family are handling the loss of his son.
"Our lives have changed forever and this will never be ok, but God needed my baby more than he was needed here," he said. "This has to be the biggest pill our families have had to swallow but I know the love and compassion in our families will get us through. This will never get easier, but we'll learn to live with it.
"Check on your kids mental!!!!!!!!!!!"
Kyren Lacy, who is from Thibodaux, Louisiana, was dealing with the legal fallout of a fatal car crash that he was involved in on Dec. 17 in Lafourche Parish. A 78-year-old man died and two others were injured in the collision.
The 6-foot-2 wide receiver, who had been considered an NFL prospect, faced counts of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.
His attorney, Matthew Ory, claimed in a Feb. 2 statement that his client did not cause the collision.
Lacy’s case was scheduled to go before a grand jury on Monday. Ory said in a new statement Sunday that he believed the evidence would have led to a "declination of charges."
"Kyren was a young man with immense promise, and he was crushed under the weight of an irresponsible and prejudiced process," Ory said in the statement. "... The pressure and perception likely became unbearable."
The cause of Kyren Lacy's death was not immediately known.
