In a deeply tragic incident, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland took his own life after a dramatic high-speed police chase reaching 145mph. The 24-year-old athlete was found deceased in a portable toilet in Plano, Texas, hours after evading officers.
The Fateful Chase and Crash
The sequence of events began on November 6 when Kneeland failed to stop for a traffic violation in Frisco, Texas. What followed was an astonishing pursuit where the NFL star reached speeds exceeding 145mph in his black Dodge Charger. According to bodycam footage obtained by the Daily Mail, Kneeland attempted a desperate U-turn manoeuvre that caused him to crash into a Ford F350 pickup truck driven by a woman.
The female driver, visibly shaken, later told police: "When I saw him come up behind me in my rearview mirror I was like, there's no way you're going to get through this." She described the impact as feeling like 160mph and credited her vehicle's sturdiness with potentially saving her life.
Following the collision, Kneeland fled on foot, abandoning his damaged vehicle with its trunk open and hazard lights flashing. Police discovered an empty holster underneath the driver's seat, indicating the presence of a weapon.
The Desperate Search Operation
Authorities launched an extensive search operation involving K-9 units, drones, and multiple police departments. Initially unaware they were pursuing an NFL player, officers presumed the vehicle had been stolen until identification records revealed the car belonged to the Dallas Cowboys star.
The search intensified when Kneeland's girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, arrived at the scene around 11:16pm local time. Police detained the 22-year-old after identifying her white Buick as being registered to Kneeland. During questioning, Mancera revealed crucial information about Kneeland's mental state, telling officers he was armed, had a history of mental illness, and would "end it all."
Bodycam footage captures officers discussing Mancera's cooperation, with one stating: "The girlfriend has his location. But she's not giving it to us... She's like, 'He's going to kill himself. I can't tell you where he's at.'" Authorities later confirmed she ultimately worked with police to locate her boyfriend.
The Tragic Discovery
At approximately 1:32am, after hours of searching that included firing pepper balls into drainage tunnels, officers discovered Kneeland's body in a porta-potty located in a parking lot beside a high-rise building. The bodycam footage shows four police officers standing next to the structure as state troopers approach.
A massive stream of blood was visible on the ground leading from the portable toilet, where the back of Kneeland's slumped body could be seen. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with the word "elevate" in white lettering. One officer can be heard exclaiming "It is lurid" upon making the grim discovery.
The tragedy occurred just 48 hours after Kneeland had scored his first NFL touchdown for the Dallas Cowboys, marking what should have been a career highlight for the rising star. In the days following his death, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed that Mancera is pregnant, and the franchise has established a memorial fund to support her and their unborn child.
