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While playing tag the night of Sept. 20, 2019, a Texas football player collapsed and died in his twin brother’s arms, according to his family.
Deshaud Williams was a 16-year-old defensive tackle for Lewisville High School’s junior varsity team. He was running around in the parking lot on Friday when he told his twin brother that he lost his breath.
“We started jogging a little bit more and he was like, ‘Da, I can’t breathe,” his brother told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
“I was like, ‘you good? Come on, we’re going to get home.’ And he was like, ‘I can’t breathe. I’m about to pass out.’ And I ran to him and he fell to his knees and fell on his back.”
Williams’ twin brother Dashaud called the police. Emergency responders were quick to the scene, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up for the family. The teen lay in his brother’s arms on the way to the hospital. He was pronounced dead in the ambulance, the family said.
The Lewisville Police Department released a statement letting the public know an autopsy was underway. There were no signs of foul play. His family believes it was a cardiac arrest, even though he was deemed in good health through a school physical earlier this year.
Williams’ mother, Razel Sheppard, said her son’s death was a “big mystery.”
“He’s never been sick. He was a healthy all-around kid. Hopefully [we’ll] get answers.”
According to the family’s GoFundMe page, Williams was an honor student, who was working at the local pizzeria to save money for a car and had dreams to become a chef one day.
“He was an industrious, reliable, sweet, kind and caring young man with a bright future. He was a gentle giant, a soft-spoken brother, son, and grandson [who] loved playing football and Fortnite.”
Dozens gathered Saturday night to release red balloons in Lewisville Park in honor of Williams.
“Today our hearts are broken. Please keep the Fighting Farmer community in your prayers as we mourn the loss of a student athlete,” said a statement released by the Lewisville Football.
By Jeanette Smith
Sources:
NBC News: Texas teen football player collapses, dies in twin brother’s arms, family says
New York Post: Texas high school football star collapses, dies in twin brother’s arms
WFLA: Texas teen football player collapses, dies in twin brother’s arms, family says
Image Courtesy of Sheri’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
