Houston track star Cameron Burrell’s death ruled suicide

A visitation for Cameron Burrell will be held on Sunday and his funeral service was set for Monday

Aug 15, 2021

The death of former NCAA national champion sprinter Cameron Burrell has been ruled a suicide, a medical examiner’s office announced Friday.

The University of Houston, where Burrell starred from 2013-2018, had said he died Monday. He was 26.

In this June 8, 2018 file photo, Houston’s Cameron Burrell raises two fingers to indicate Houston’s back-to-back men’s 400-meter relay wins, during the third day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. (Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard via AP, File)

Cameron died from a “gunshot wound of the head,” according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. His body was found in a Houston parking garage.

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“We may never know why Cameron made such a decision. We encourage anyone who may be struggling in their lives to reach out for help. You are not alone, and you are surrounded by more people who love and care for you than you may think in a dark moment,” Leroy Burrell, Cameron Burrell’s father said Friday in a statement. Leroy Burrell is a former Olympic gold medal sprinter who coaches Houston’s track team.

A visitation for Cameron Burrell will be held on Sunday and his funeral service was set for Monday.

Cameron Burrell won the national title in the 100 meters in 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. He won a second national title with his team that season by running the anchor leg of the 4×100-meter relay.

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Cameron Burrell was a three-time, first-team All-America in the 60-meter dash (2014, 2017-18) in the indoor season and earned first-team All-America honors three times (2016-2018) in the 100 on the outdoor schedule. He also was an All-America honoree as the anchor of the team’s 4X100-meter relay in 2014 and 2018.

He was on the 4×100 relay team which won gold at the World Junior Championships in 2012 and earned silver at the 2019 World Relays. He ran anchor on the United States relay team that won gold at the 2018 Athletics World Cup.

*If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one or would like emotional support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or visit the Lifeline Chat. The Crisis Text Line can also be reached by texting “Hello” to 741741.

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