Nationwide — Doug Martin, an African American NFL player, died after being taken into police custody in Oakland, California. His family revealed that he had been struggling with mental health issues for years and that they were seeking help for him before his death.
In a statement released through Martin’s former agency, Athletes First, the family said they had called local authorities the night of the incident to ask for medical assistance, according to TMZ. They said the 36-year-old became “overwhelmed and disoriented,” eventually leaving his home and entering a neighbor’s house a few doors away.
Police said officers responded to the call and had a “brief struggle” with Martin while trying to detain him. Shortly after, he became unresponsive. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The family shared that Martin’s mental health challenges had deeply impacted both his personal life and football career. They said these struggles were often hidden from public view. “Ultimately, mental illness proved to be the one opponent from which Doug could not run,” their statement read.
Authorities have not yet determined Martin’s cause of death. The investigation remains active, with multiple agencies involved in reviewing the events leading up to his passing.
Source: BlackNews.com
