High School Football Player Collapses and Dies in Twin Brother’s Arms

Deshaud "Dee" Williams, 16, died suddenly in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 20, 2019. Final Arrangements for DeShaud Williams/GoFundMe

A Texas high school football player died in the arms of his brother on Sept. 20.

Deshaud “Dee” Williams, 16, was playing with his friends and family on Friday night in the Dallas-Fort Worth area “when he suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness, taking his last breath in his twin brother’s arms,” according to Raven Sheppard-Alcorn, who started a GoFundMe for the Williams family.

Dee’s twin brother, Dashaud “Day Day” Williams, called 911 but emergency responders who arrived within minutes soon pronounced Dee dead.

“An autopsy is being performed to established Dee’s precise cause of death, but he’s suspected to have suffered cardiac arrest,” Sheppard-Alcorn said.

Day Day said the twins were playing tag on Friday night when the sudden death happened.

“We started jogging a little bit more and he was like, ‘Da, I can’t breathe,’” Day Day told a local broadcaster. “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.”

Razel Sheppard, the mother of the twins, said Dee had a physical earlier this year.

“Yes, a big mystery,” Sheppard said. “He’s never been sick. He was a healthy all-around kid. Hopefully [we'll] get answers.”

Sheppard-Alcorn, who started the GoFundMe, said the family is mourning the loss and needs financial help for the funeral and associated costs, which are high because Dee is from Cleveland, Ohio, but died in Texas.

He said Dee left behind a number of relatives and was a hard worker and diligent student.

“Dee left this world before his mother, two brothers, grandparents, aunts, and uncles got a chance to say goodbye. To them, he was more than just an honor roll student who dreamed of being a chef one day. He was a gentle giant, a softspoken brother, son, and grandson who loved playing football and ‘Fortnite,’” she added.

“Before his sudden passing, Dee was working a part-time job at Domino’s to earn extra money to save up for a car. He was an industrious, reliable, sweet, kind, and caring young man with a bright future. He would give you the clothes off his back if that meant for someone else in need.”

Jeffrey Kajs, principal of Lewisville High School in Texas, where Dee attended, announced the death to the school community in a Sept. 23 letter.

“It is with a heavy heart I share with you the news that one of our students unexpectedly passed away this weekend. Out of respect for the student’s family and because of laws protecting student information, I am not able to share specific information with you, but wanted to make you aware of this situation impacting our campus,” he wrote.

“We know students may respond in many different ways to this news, whether they personally knew the student or not. Members of the Lewisville ISD’s CARE Team, a group of highly trained counselors and social workers, will be on campus Monday and will continue to support our campus and any student in need in the days ahead.”