Former college football player Ray Lewis III, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, has passed away at the age of 28, according to a social media post from his younger brother.
His brother, Rahsaan Lewis, posted about his brother’s death on Instagram this week.
“Really can’t believe I’m even typing this but RIP big brother. A true angel I pray [you’re] at peace now because [I know] how much you was [really] hurtin'...," he wrote.
He added, "I don't and I won't ever have the words man, 'cause this pain right here... I love you, I love you, I love you."
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At the time of his death, no causes were released. But because of Rahsaan's message to his late brother, many started to speculate that Lewis III might have died by suicide.
Self-reported suicide attempts for black adolescents rose by 73% between 1991 to 2017. And young Black men are engaging in more lethal means when attempting suicide than Black girls which has increased by 122% between 1997-2017.
Young Black men commit suicide at more than three times the rate of Black women. But, according to Suicide Prevention Resource Center, compared to the overall U.S. population, a higher percentage of Black youth have attempted suicide in the past year and Black youth reporting a suicide attempt that required treatment was about equal to the overall U.S. population.
In 2014, 80% of suicide deaths in the Black community were men.
As new reports came in on Friday, June 16th, Lewis III died from an overdose, this is according to a recent police report obtained by TMZ.
TMZ Sports obtained the overdose report from police in Florida ... and it says Lewis apparently died from an accidental overdose.
Police say they responded to a call for a medical emergency and found an unresponsive Lewis, who was getting CPR from a friend while another friend was screaming for Narcan (a drug used during overdoses).
Cops say Lewis was lying naked in a room, between a bed and a wall and he was not breathing. Police say they administered Narcan in his right nostril, but there was no response.
The report also says cops searched the room and found a blue pill near Lewis' body, which they unofficially identified as Alprazolam (the drug in brands like Xanax). Police also say there was a used needle at the scene, plus a small plastic bag found inside of an empty beer can.
Lewis III made a name for himself playing high school football for Lake Mary Preparatory School in Florida.
Like his 2-Time Superbowl champion father, he went on to play college football for the University of Miami before moving to Coastal Carolina and then Virginia Union.
Mark James, Lewis III’s coach at Virginia Union, wrote a tribute to his former player on Facebook.
Lewis III last played professionally for the Wyoming Mustangs of the Champions Indoor Football League.
“Young man it was a pleasure to bring you to Virginia Union. Ray Ray May God bless your family. Great young man,” he wrote.
Remembering her brother, sister Diaymon shared, "Brownie, I love [you] with all of my heart."
"You will always be my first love and truly are the definition of a quintessential brother," she wrote on her Instagram Story. "To the most genuine and talented person I know, go get your rest baby and I'm glad you're at peace. Fly high baby."
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Shortly after his death, she also re-posted a family photo that her dad shared for Father's Day 2019. "God is the greatest Father ever, thank you for showing me the way," the athlete wrote at the time. "Thank you for my blessings- they are the Key to my Heart."
