Traffic camera footage has emerged showing the start of a police chase involving Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, leading to a tragic conclusion. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a state trooper attempted to pull over Kneeland’s vehicle around 10:33 p.m. on November 5, 2023, on the northbound Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Road in Addison. The chase ended shortly after when the trooper lost sight of Kneeland’s vehicle.
At approximately 10:39 p.m., the Frisco Police Department received a request from DPS to locate the vehicle. Authorities have not disclosed the specific traffic violation that prompted the attempted stop. The footage shows a black Dodge Charger driving in the left lane of the tollway, passing a parked state trooper. The trooper then initiated a pursuit, captured in a separate clip timestamped at 10:38 p.m. The Charger is seen accelerating past other vehicles, with a police cruiser following closely behind, lights activated.
Minutes later, the Charger was discovered crashed and abandoned in a field adjacent to the access road of the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway in Frisco. It had collided with a Ford truck, though the driver of the truck reported no injuries.
The situation escalated when the Frisco police requested assistance from Plano Police around 11:00 p.m. to check on Kneeland’s Plano apartment, suspecting the vehicle might have been stolen. Officers arrived at approximately 11:30 p.m. but received no response. Dispatch audio indicated that Kneeland’s girlfriend had contacted police, expressing concern after he sent a message stating goodbye to his family.
Shortly after, a call from Prosper at 11:43 p.m. alerted authorities to troubling messages Kneeland had sent in a group chat. These messages prompted a welfare check on the player. Tragically, Kneeland was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Network Boulevard and Gaylord Parkway, less than a mile from the crash site and close to The Star, the Cowboys’ practice facility.
Kneeland was only 24 years old at the time of his death, highlighting the sorrowful circumstances surrounding this incident. His passing has brought attention to the mental health struggles that can affect individuals in high-pressure careers, including professional sports.
The Dallas Cowboys organization has not yet released a statement regarding the incident. As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding the events that led to this heartbreaking outcome.
