A growing legal and political storm is unfolding in Louisiana following the release of new video evidence and leaked internal memos suggesting a possible cover-up in the investigation of a deadly crash involving former LSU football standout Kyren Lacy.
The case has drawn attention from civil rights groups, including the Louisiana NAACP, which is demanding the resignation of Louisiana State Police Colonel Robert Hodges.
Conflicting Accounts and Newly Released Evidence
The Louisiana State Police (LSP) released additional video footage this week as part of their ongoing investigation into a crash that left 78-year-old veteran Herman Hall dead.
In the footage, LSP asserts that all evidence “supports the conclusion that Lacy’s reckless operation of the green Charger in oncoming traffic triggered the chain of events involving the other drivers, ultimately resulting in the fatal crash.”
Investigators also disclosed that within minutes of the crash, Lacy’s first outgoing phone call was reportedly to a Baton Rouge personal injury and defense attorney—a detail fueling speculation about whether he anticipated criminal liability.
The new footage was released after the Lacy family’s attorney published a separate video last week, arguing that the evidence exonerates Lacy and shows he was not responsible for the deadly chain-reaction collision. The dueling videos have intensified public scrutiny over the transparency of the investigation.
Leaked Memos Suggest Internal Misconduct
Adding to the controversy are leaked internal memos allegedly exposing a coordinated effort by senior LSP officials to suppress or manipulate portions of the crash investigation record. The memos, whose authenticity is now under legal review, suggest discrepancies between field officers’ initial reports and the official summary released to the public. If verified, these documents could raise serious due process and obstruction concerns, potentially implicating key figures within the department.
Civil rights advocates argue that the alleged cover-up fits a broader pattern of institutional misconduct within Louisiana law enforcement. Attorneys familiar with police liability cases say that, if proven, the suppression of evidence could open the door to federal civil rights litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which allows individuals to sue for violations of constitutional rights under color of state law.
NAACP Demands Accountability
The Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP issued a statement condemning Colonel Hodges’ handling of the Lacy case and calling for his immediate resignation.
“In our view, Colonel Hodges failed the public by attempting to justify the incident involving Kyren Lacy,” the organization said. “This is unacceptable, and we are calling for his immediate resignation.”
The NAACP is also urging citizens across the state to contact Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill to demand accountability and an independent review of LSP’s conduct.
Attorney General Weighs In
In response to mounting public pressure, Attorney General Liz Murrill released a statement acknowledging the complexity of the case.
“The evidence is not disputed here,” Murrill said. “The Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office was prepared to present the case to a grand jury that showed Kyren Lacy returning to his lane. However, that does not absolve Kyren Lacy of responsibility in this matter. Every witness identified the green Charger Kyren Lacy was determined to be driving as having put the events in motion that led to the head-on collision, which killed 78-year-old veteran Herman Hall.”
Murrill added that she is continuing to review the entire case file and plans to issue a more detailed statement upon completion of her review.
Legal and Political Fallout
Legal experts note that if the leaked memos are authenticated, they could become central to both civil and criminal investigations into LSP’s internal conduct. Misrepresentation or suppression of material evidence in a fatality case could expose officers and commanders to criminal charges, including obstruction of justice, tampering with public records, and official misconduct.
The controversy also places renewed pressure on Louisiana’s leadership to confront what critics call a culture of impunity within state policing. Calls for reform are likely to intensify as both the Attorney General’s Office and civil rights organizations pursue parallel inquiries.
