Solomon Thomas had a heartfelt message for his teammate Marshawn Kneeland following his tragic death on Thursday.<\/b>
\nSolomon Thomas had a heartfelt message for his teammate Marshawn Kneeland following his tragic death on Thursday.
Thomas, who was a part of the Cowboys\u2019 defensive line alongside Kneeland this season, took to Instagram to post an emotional goodbye.
\u201cBrother Marshawn, I love you,\u201d Thomas posted to his Instagram story. \u201cI wish you knew it was going to be okay. I wish you knew the pain wouldn\u2019t last and how loved you are. I wish you knew how bad we wanted you to stay. My heart breaks for you and your loved ones. We will lift your spirit up everyday.
\u201cTo anyone struggling please hold on to that light\/ Please know there is always helf and hope. Whaterver story you\u2019re going through it\u2019s okay to feel that pain. It\u2019s okay to not be okay. But the light will come again.\u201d
Kneeland, 24, died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Thursday.
DPS troopers said they got into a vehicle pursuit with Kneeland on Wednesday night after he failed to stop following a traffic violation.
After initially losing sight of the vehicle, Kneeland\u2019s car was later found abandoned and appeared to be crashed.
Kneeland\u2019s body was then found in a nearby porta-potty, according to the police audio obtained by TMZ.
\u201cIt is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family,\u201d the Cowboys said in a statement.
Kneeland\u2019s girlfriend Catalina believed that he was \u201carmed\u201d and said that \u201che will end it all,\u201d according to police audio.
The lineman also apparently texted his family \u201cgoodbye.\u201d
\u201cI watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,\u201d Kneeland\u2019s agent Jon Perzley said in a statement. \u201cMarshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.
\u201cMy heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time. I ask that you please give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.\u201d
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.<\/p>\n