Kyren Lacy being honored with other seniors at LSU game. November, 2024. Photo credit: Creative Commons
Social media was quick to deem Kyren Lacy guilty even before his trial date, but new information has flipped the entire ordeal on its head.
Innocent until proven guilty. That is the motto the American justice system prides itself on. Everyone is supposed to be afforded due process under United States law, but this isn’t always the case.
Before his grand jury hearing regarding his negligent homicide, hit-and-run and reckless driving charges, Kyren Lacy, a 24-year-old LSU wide receiver, died by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being chased by police.
In January 2025, The Louisiana State Police issued a warrant for Lacy’s arrest after he was accused of making an illegal lane pass that caused a head-on collision, killing 78-year-old Herman Hall.
Why did a talented 24-year-old, who had yet to receive a verdict for his alleged crimes, choose to take his own life?
This has less to do with underlying mental health struggles and all to do with the media’s response to Lacy’s arrest, as social media users were quick to bully and vilify the athlete.
Without a formal presentation of evidence or a trial among his peers, Kyren Lacy was labeled a murderer, and his public perception became tainted with widespread prejudice.
It does not matter whether the grand jury found Lacy guilty or innocent; he deserved to be on this earth, seeking his justice under a court of law.
Instead, social media users scrutinized Lacy’s current and previous actions, analyzing past Tweets and even touchdown celebrations. Lacy’s behavior was decontextualized and misconstrued with every post, like and comment perpetuating his guilt in the public eye.
Now, there is no conclusive way to tell if Kyren Lacy had a future beyond bars, making plays on the field at a national level. But if America’s justice system is to survive modern advancement, there needs to be considerable change in how the accused and the convicted are treated in this country.
If justice is expected, the alleged criminals must be protected the same as any other person within the United States.
It is this nation’s duty to treat every human with respect and afford them their civil liberties. Law enforcement officials, defense attorneys and prosecutors should be proactive with suspects, ensuring they do not harm themselves or others before their appearances in court.
The Justice Department and local jurisdictions must also create new safety measures to protect those in their custody from all threats, including public perception and social media.
It cannot be understated that this is yet another black person who was brutalized, ridiculed and abandoned, all while the institutions that swore to protect them stood by and did nothing.
Americans need to question how much of the brutality Lacy faced was because of deep-seated racial prejudice within this country.
Although the investigation into the fatal car crash and the debates regarding the role social media played in Lacy’s death are still ongoing, it is with absolute certainty that society and the justice system failed to recognize Lacy’s humanity.
Posts and reposts decided Lacy’s verdict before a jury could, and he’ll never get the chance to pursue his dreams because of it.
