Traffic camera footage has revealed the early moments of a police chase involving Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. The incident occurred on the night of November 5, 2023, when a state trooper attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Kneeland around 10:33 p.m. on the northbound Dallas North Tollway, near Keller Springs Road in Addison, Texas.
The chase commenced after the trooper activated his lights following Kneeland’s vehicle, a black Dodge Charger. Although the chase was short-lived, as troopers ultimately lost sight of the vehicle, it raised immediate concerns for law enforcement. By 10:39 p.m., the Frisco Police Department received a request from the Texas Department of Public Safety to assist in locating the Charger.
Details regarding the specific traffic violation that prompted the attempted stop have not been disclosed by authorities. However, footage captured on traffic cameras shows the Charger moving at a high speed and overtaking other vehicles on the tollway. A police cruiser, with its emergency lights activated, was seen pursuing the Charger.
The situation escalated when the Charger was found shortly after the chase, crashed and abandoned in a field adjacent to the access road of the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway in Frisco. The Charger had collided with a Ford truck, though the driver of the truck was unharmed.
At approximately 11:00 p.m., the Frisco Police contacted the Plano Police Department to check Kneeland’s apartment, suspecting the vehicle may have been stolen. Officers arrived at Kneeland’s residence around 11:30 p.m. but received no response. Concurrently, Kneeland’s girlfriend reported to police that he had sent a troubling text to his family, indicating he intended to harm himself.
Further alarming communications emerged from a group chat, where Kneeland shared distressing messages. By 11:43 p.m., someone from Prosper, Texas, contacted authorities to request a welfare check on Kneeland due to his concerning messages. Tragically, police found Kneeland deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at around 1:30 a.m. on November 6. His body was located 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.
This incident has shocked the community, shedding light on the mental health struggles that can affect individuals, including high-profile athletes. Kneeland was only 24 years old at the time of his passing. The circumstances surrounding this tragedy prompt a deeper discussion about mental health support and the challenges faced by those in the public eye.
