Police Bodycam Footage Details Search for Marshawn Kneeland Before His Death
Newly released body camera and dashcam footage reveals the timeline of law enforcement’s search for Marshawn Kneeland in the hours leading up to his death on November 6th. the videos depict a rapidly evolving situation where officers initially pursued a vehicle matching a vague description, then focused their search on an office park, ultimately learning their suspect was the NFL player.
The initial contact with a woman identified as Yessenia Mancera occurred around 10:50 p.m. on november 5th. Mancera told a texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper she was staying nearby but did not reside in the area. The trooper allowed her to return to her car, advising her to be safe and informing her there was a vehicle police were searching for that “matched your description.” Notably,Mancera did not mention Kneeland during this interaction.
Less than thirty minutes later, at approximately 11:40 p.m., the same trooper was informed by a Frisco police officer that law enforcement “have” Mancera again and were attempting to persuade her to contact kneeland to encourage him to surrender, but he was allegedly threatening to “end it all.”
Around 1:00 a.m. on November 6th, the trooper encountered Mancera again with a group of officers. he questioned her, asking, “What’s goin’ on ma’am, why are you lying to me?” Mancera maintained she had not lied. A retired police officer present intervened, telling the trooper, “Let’s not do that, we’re in cooperating mode,” and the trooper subsequently left the scene. Mancera has not responded to requests for comment from ESPN.
Concurrently with the pursuit involving Mancera, officers began a search of an office park, focusing on a water duct tube system around 11:15 p.m. Video footage shows officers shouting into the pipes, warning anyone inside that a K-9 unit would be deployed if they didn’t emerge. One officer stated, “He’s a big dude, though, yeah?” Officers reported hearing a cough from within the pipes and, around 11:30 p.m., deployed pepper balls into the system. An officer also relayed facts that the suspect was believed to be armed.
Shortly after midnight, officers learned the suspect’s phone was “right where we are,” pinpointing the location to the immediate vicinity of the water duct. Officers directed attention to the tunnel, stating, “Watch that tunnel,” and “I mean, he’s around here somewhere — I’m thinking tunnel.” The search of the duct area continued for approximately ten minutes before officers were diverted to investigate a nearby heat signature. it remains unclear when monitoring of the duct area ceased.
The identity of the suspect as Marshawn Kneeland became known to officers throughout the night. At 11:31 p.m.,two troopers were observed searching for information about kneeland online,with one noting,”I think he might have played [two nights ago].” This refers to Kneeland scoring his first professional touchdown against the Arizona cardinals on November 3rd.
At approximately 11:55 p.m.,a Frisco police officer informed the troopers that Plano police were “on the phone with the NFL,[Kneeland] is texting them and his family goodbye.” This followed a welfare check request initiated by Dallas Cowboys director of security Cable Johnson at 11:40 p.m., prompted by concerning text messages from Kneeland.
The Frisco officer then showed Kneeland’s picture to the officers present, including the K-9 unit. Later, at around 1:15 a.m., one trooper remarked to another, ”anyone else they would’ve been kicking down doors and all that.” The other trooper responded, “They don’t want him to die. That’ll be broadcast all over.”
