Marshawn Kneeland, a 24-year-old running back for the Dallas Cowboys, was found dead early on November 6 following a high-speed vehicle pursuit in suburban Dallas. Now, newly released bodycam and dashcam footage shows how the incident unfolded.
A video released by Texas state troopers offers a detailed look at the hours leading up to his death, revealing the frantic search efforts and growing concern from both law enforcement and Kneeland‘s loved ones.
The incident began the night before, when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper attempted a traffic stop on a Dodge Charger traveling north on the Dallas North Tollway around 22:33 on November 5.
The vehicle reportedly reached speeds exceeding 145 mph, with some troopers noting in footage that the chase may have peaked at 160 mph.
After the car crashed into a Ford F-350 in a grassy area near an office park in Frisco, the driver abandoned the vehicle.
Eyewitness recalls the crash
An eyewitness to the collision recalled the terrifying moment: “I saw him in my rearview mirror coming as fast as he was. I was like, ‘Oh my God, he’s not stopping,’ and then he just plowed into me,” she told a trooper.
At the time, authorities did not know the driver was Kneeland and initially believed the car may have been stolen.
The abandoned Charger contained an empty holster, which led troopers to suspect the driver might have been armed.
This prompted a wide-ranging search of the surrounding office park, wooded areas, and drainage tunnels beneath sidewalks. During the search, officers deployed K-9 units and fired pepper balls into the drainage tunnels.
One Frisco officer warned over the radio: “Frisco K-9. If you’re in this tunnel, I’m going to send my dog in here. He is going to bite you. This is your last opportunity.”
A drone was also used to survey difficult-to-reach areas, but Kneeland was not immediately located. Authorities later discovered that Kneeland‘s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, had knowledge of his whereabouts but had initially withheld it.
Frantic search efforts and family concerns
Bodycam footage shows a Frisco officer telling her, “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.'”
Mancera later assisted officers in locating Kneeland and attempted to call him and his agent while with law enforcement.
Kneeland‘s family and friends had been deeply concerned for his safety, as he had sent messages bidding them goodbye.
Following the incident, Mancera posted a heartfelt tribute to Kneeland on Facebook, writing: “My sweet boy is really gone. The things that I would do just to hold you one more time and tell you how much you mean to me.
“But now I have you to watch over me and wait for me on the other side. I will see you again.”
The Cowboys organization announced that a memorial fund has been established to support Mancera, who is pregnant with the couple’s child.
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