Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend contacted police just hours before his death
The sports world is in mourning following the heartbreaking death of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who was found dead early Friday morning at just 24 years old.
Authorities confirmed that Kneeland died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, only hours after his girlfriend made a desperate call to 911.
The ordeal began late Thursday night around 10:39 p.m., when Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to stop a vehicle in Frisco. Behind the wheel was Kneeland himself.
In emotional dispatch audio later obtained by reporters, Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina, could be heard pleading with operators. “He will end it all,” she said through tears, warning officers that Kneeland was armed and in distress.
Moments later, police learned he had sent what appeared to be a farewell text message to loved ones, triggering a multi-agency search that stretched into the night.
When troopers discovered Kneeland’s crashed vehicle near the Dallas Parkway, he was nowhere to be found. K-9 units, drones, and local law enforcement joined the search, combing the nearby area.
Then came the moment everyone feared — officers found a portable toilet with its door slightly ajar and red liquid seeping out. A voice over the police radio broke the silence:
“Red liquid coming out … he’s lying on his side.”
Inside, they discovered Kneeland’s body. He was pronounced dead shortly after 1:30 a.m. The Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting the final investigation, but police confirmed the cause as self-inflicted.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the Dallas Cowboys organization and across the NFL, leaving fans and teammates devastated by the sudden loss of a young man who, just days before, was celebrating the best game of his career.