Why were police chasing Marshawn Kneeland — and what drove the Cowboys DE to pull the trigger in his self-inflicted death

The Texas Department of Public Safety said Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead early Thursday morning in Frisco, Texas, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after crashing his car following a police chase.

The chase began at 10:33PM. local time on Wednesday when officers attempted to stop Kneeland’s car, but he failed to pull over. DPS troopers followed him until they lost sight of the vehicle. The car was later found abandoned after a crash in the southbound lanes of the Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway. The Frisco Police Department said Kneeland fled the scene on foot. According to The Athletic, police conducted a welfare check at Kneeland’s address around 11:40PM.,

but the officers did not find anybody at the residence.

Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend informed officers that he was armed, had a history of mental illness, and had expressed suicidal ideation

The Athletic reviewed a Frisco police dispatch recording from 11:30PM where an officer said police were talking to Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina. The officer said, “We’re talking to the girlfriend. She’s trying to call his agent. But we’re trying to get her to call him first. But she’s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness. And her quote was—He will end it all.”

Catalina then tried to call Kneeland’s agent, Jon Perzley, while other officers worked with Verizon to locate his phone.

Around 11:45PM, Kneeland sent a “goodbye” message to a group chat. A dispatcher told officers that people who knew him received a group text from Kneeland saying “goodbye. They’re concerned for his welfare.”After confirming with Catalina, officers tried to contact Kneeland directly using the number that sent the message.

About 30 minutes later, a dispatcher told police that family members were receiving Kneeland’s “goodbye” message. It is unclear whether the message was received in the same group chat or in separate messages. The dispatcher also told police that the NFL had contacted Plano police about Kneeland. Officers searched for him with K-9 and drone units, narrowing the search to less than half a mile west of the Dallas Parkway.

Around 1:20AM, a drone confirmed blood coming from a portable toilet by the complex. An officer stated that thermal imaging revealed someone curled up on the floor. Police ended the search about three hours after the crash, at 1:31AM, after they found Kneeland dead inside the portable toilet.

Marshawn Kneeland had lost his mother last year. A few months back, talking to The Dallas Morning News, Kneeland shared, “It was definitely tough. I just managed it. I had to try to breathe and let all of it out as much as possible with the situation. She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always had the dream. I always told her—I’m going to the NFL. I put myself in the best position and she helped me out a lot just leading up to the draft.

She was right there with me. She’s still with me. I got this urn of her ashes I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she’s there watching over me.”More coverage on Dallas Cowboys:“Triggering day for many reasons”: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott pays a humble tribute to defensive end Marshawn Kneeland“Paid Liar”: Micah Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta faces fans’ fury after talking to the host of ESPN’s First Take Stephen A. Smith‘Create some championships or shut up’: Fans slam Cowboys owner Jerry Jones over 30-year hiatus