New Police Footage Reveals Chaos During Marshawn Kneeland’s Chase and Search on the Night He Died

Turmoil, fear, and unanswered questions defined the last hours of the young athlete's life, leaving loved ones and a community grappling with what unfolded next.

Newly released footage, first obtained by the Texas Department of Public Safety and spotlighted by multiple media outlets, is now pulling back the curtain on the chilling night that ended with Marshawn Kneeland's death — a night marked by confusion, terror, and unanswered questions.

High-Speed Terror on the Dallas Parkway

It all started just after 10:30 p.m. on November 5, when troopers reportedly spotted Kneeland behind the wheel of a black Dodge Charger, weaving through traffic at a blistering 160 mph. According to reports, law enforcement initially believed the car was stolen — not realizing they were tailing a man who suffered from mental health challenges.

Then came the first collision. Kneeland's Charger slammed into a woman's SUV. Bodycam footage reportedly captured her in a state of shock, standing beside her crumpled vehicle as she said, "I saw him in my rearview mirror... I was like, 'Oh my God, he's not stopping' and then he just plowed into me."

Seconds later, Kneeland's vehicle veered off into a grassy area, scraping another car before halting. He didn't wait.

The Desperate Hunt Begins

At 10:43 p.m., Kneeland's car sideswiped a Ford F-250 on a frontage road — mere blocks from The Star, the Cowboys' glittering practice facility, The Dallas Morning News reported. Trooper Kaitlynn King arrived moments later, asking the driver, "Ma'am, are you OK?"

The truck's driver, shaken but unharmed, told the responding officer, "He just hit me out of nowhere. He just hit me, then he started running." Pointing towards a parking garage, she added, "He went that way."

Within seconds, the dashcam footage recorded a lone figure moving away from the wreck, vanishing into the night. Officers found an empty holster in the Charger — escalating fears that the man they were chasing might be armed. What followed was a frenzied search.

Police cleared stairwells, stormed parking garages, searched dumpsters, and swept wooded areas. K-9 units barked warnings into drainage tunnels, "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."

Pepper balls were fired. Drones took flight. But the NFL player was nowhere to be found.

A Desperate Search Cut Seconds Too Short

At 11:40 p.m., the search shifted sharply when officers found a white Buick SUV belonging to Kneeland and driven by his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera. Initially detained by police, Mancera's words added a new layer of terror:

"He's going to kill himself. I can't tell you where he's at."

According to The New York Post, officers were frustrated, believing Mancera was withholding information — only to later learn she had tried desperately to call Kneeland and his agent.

She told police that Kneeland had a gun, suffered from mental health issues, and had threatened to "end it all." She was among the last to speak to him.

By midnight, the search had narrowed. Phone pings placed Kneeland somewhere near Gaylord Parkway and Network Boulevard, within a 300-meter radius. After nearly 90 minutes of confusion and dead ends, the first real breakthrough came just after 1 a.m., when a drone's thermal camera detected body heat inside a portable restroom outside an office complex.

At 1:32 a.m., officers moved in. Inside, they found Kneeland unresponsive. Authorities later confirmed that he had died by suicide. The search had lasted over three hours.

NFL teams held moments of silence the following Sunday. Players across the league wore Kneeland's number, name, and face on their gear. The Cowboys, now mourning one of their own, stood with his family. The footage cannot explain why he ran. But it shows us what he ran from: confusion, fear, and a system not equipped to save him in time.

For those left behind, the footage is more than evidence — it is a reminder of everything that was lost. And as the final hours of Kneeland's life come into more precise focus, the heartbreak that followed has only deepened, especially for those who loved him most — and for the Dallas Cowboys organization now rallying around the family he left behind.

The tragedy is made even more poignant as his girlfriend, Mancera, is pregnant with their first child, intensifying the team's commitment to honor his memory and support his family.

The Cowboys' Compassionate Step to Protect Kneeland's Family

In a deeply emotional press conference, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the tragedy, remembering Kneeland's radiant spirit and the heavy toll his absence has taken on the team.

Schottenheimer spoke from the heart, recalling an emotional night shared with players and staff — one filled with stories, tears, and aching laughter as they honored a young life cut tragically short. The late athlete's warm demeanor and unforgettable smile, Schottenheimer said, had left an indelible mark on the locker room.

The Cowboys responded to the tragedy with more than words, taking a tangible step to support Kneeland's family. The team established the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, a commitment designed to provide ongoing care for Mancera and her unborn child, ensuring that the deceased athlete's legacy lives on through the family he leaves behind.

On the importance of supporting them, the head coach said. "She's pregnant. And so we want to make sure she's taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives."

Finding Strength in Unity

In the wake of the tragedy, the five-time Super Bowl champions have turned to one another, drawing comfort from shared meals, conversations, and quiet reflection, with a vigil placing Mancera at the heart of remembrance.

Schottenheimer acknowledged the healing process as ongoing and communal. The team has sought both professional guidance and a deep, brotherly connection to navigate their sorrow.

Mancera, who has remained largely out of the public spotlight, broke her silence in a Facebook post on November 10, 2025, sharing her heartbreak. Her quiet dignity has become a focal point for the team's resolve to protect her and the baby at all costs.

Planned tributes, including helmet decals and a permanent locker memorial, honor Kneeland's memory, but the memorial fund carries the most profound significance — a promise to safeguard the future he envisioned.

In the end, the loss of a young life left far more than a trail of flashing lights and unanswered questions. It left a team fractured, a family waiting for a child who will never meet his father, and a community forever altered by a night that spiraled beyond anyone's reach.

As the Cowboys move forward, their vow to protect the family Marshawn Kneeland left behind stands as both tribute and testimony — a reminder that even in the darkest moments, no one should have to carry the weight alone.