Records: WMU police summoned twice to assist Kneeland

Police at Western Michigan University were summoned on two occasions to conduct welfare checks on former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland during his time at the school, including instances when coaches expressed concerns regarding his possession of a firearm, as per records obtained by ESPN.

Kneeland, aged 24, passed away on November 6 from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Frisco, Texas. Documents acquired through an open-records request indicate that his mental health was a concern as early as 2020.

One such incident occurred in June 2023, just ten months ahead of his selection by Dallas in the second round of the NFL draft. Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor and then-defensive coordinator Lou Esposito requested a police welfare check due to concerns that Kneeland had recently ended a relationship and wanted to ensure he was psychologically sound enough to own a firearm, as detailed in a police report.

«After engaging with Kneeland, he willingly surrendered the firearm to WMUPD for safekeeping until a counselor deemed him fit,» the reporting officer noted.

Twelve days later, Kneeland reclaimed his weapon after procuring a letter from a social worker at the Western Michigan Sindecuse Health Center who stated that he had been evaluated and posed no harm to himself or others, according to the report.

Taylor and Esposito were unavailable for immediate comment on Friday. A spokesperson for the Western Michigan athletics department chose not to comment. The counselor mentioned in the report also did not respond to ESPN’s inquiries.

In a separate incident in September 2020, a friend of Kneeland contacted emergency services expressing concerns for his welfare, leading police to find him near train tracks in Kalamazoo.

«Kneeland shared with me that he was sitting by the tracks hoping a train would hit him to end his life,» wrote the responding officer in a report. «He expressed feeling down due to life circumstances and not playing football at WMU. He indicated this feeling had persisted for some time. When asked how long he had been feeling this way, he did not provide an answer. Kneeland mentioned he was neither seeing a therapist nor taking any medication for mental health issues.»

The report noted that Kneeland declined medical assistance, but Kent County sheriff’s deputies at the scene ensured he was taken to Borgess Hospital (now Beacon Kalamazoo). The report does not indicate when or why Kneeland was discharged from the hospital.

A spokesperson for the Cowboys chose not to respond to queries regarding whether they were aware of Kneeland’s prior incidents.

Kneeland’s cousin, Nicole Kneeland-Woods, who acts as a family spokesperson, stated she was unaware of these occurrences. «Not at all,» she remarked.

On Thursday, the family conducted a private memorial service in Wyoming, Michigan. Kneeland-Woods mentioned that attendance was limited to family members, close friends, and some of his coaches.

“At this point, our focus is on moving forward,” she stated. “This marks the beginning of our healing process.”

Texas law enforcement discovered Kneeland’s body in the early hours of November 6 after he fled from officers during a traffic pursuit, crashed his vehicle, and escaped on foot. Details regarding what initiated the pursuit remain unclear. As the search continued, officers received reports indicating that Kneeland had voiced «suicidal thoughts.»