Cameron Burrell.Photo: Sean Burges/getty
Former University of Houston track starCameron Burrell’s deathhas been ruled as suicide, PEOPLE confirms.
The Nike athlete suffered a fatal gunshot wound on Monday, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. He was 26.
Cameron Burrell.Jamie Schwaberow/getty
Cameron’s father, who is also the head coach of the University of Houston’s track and field program, released a statement via the athletic department on Tuesday announcing his death.
“My family is extremely saddened with the loss of our son, Cameron, last night. We are going through profound sorrow and ask that all of our friends, extended University of Houston family and the track and field community in the U.S. and abroad allow us to gather with our closest family and friends,” Leroy said, adding, “We are profoundly grief-stricken, and thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support.”
Cameron followed in the footsteps of his relatives, one of America’s most successful track and field families. His father, mother Michelle Finn-Burrell and aunt Dawn Burrell are all former Olympians. Cameron’s godfather is the legendary nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis.
Dawnshared a tributeto Cameron on Tuesday, prefacing that she usually doesn’t publicly speak about her life, but in this case, it “is too heavy to carry alone.”
“I have no children. My nieces and nephews are it. I love them like they are mine. I guess this post serves as a cry for help right now because for the first time, my battle is too much to bare. Right now, my heart is broken into a million pieces,” theTop Chefalum wrote.
Dawn added, “He was so amazing and so troubled. I did not know how much so.”
“I am saying all this to say- Please check on your strong family members that you view as kings. They might be struggling internally more than you realize,” she said.
“Cameron grew up around the Houston Athletics Department, worked hard and developed himself into one of our greatest Track and Field stars,” Chris Pezman, University of Houston Vice President of Athletics wrote in a statement released earlier this week. “To lose him so suddenly is tragic. We ask all University of Houston and track and field fans to keep Coach Burrell and his family in their thoughts and prayers.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.
source: people.com
