Family will donate Richmond DB Gus Lee's brain to concussion research
The family of University of Richmond defensive back Augustus “Gus” Lee will donate his brain to concussion research after he was found dead in his car earlier this week.
Lee, a redshirt freshman, died Tuesday from suicide by asphyxiation, according to the medical examiner. Lee was 20.
His brain will go to the Veterans Administration-Boston University-Concussion Legacy Foundation Brain Bank, the Washington Post reported Thursday. The organization studies traumatic brain injuries and the disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Lee’s mother, Phyllis Lee, told the Washington Post her son had concussions when he was younger, including one in which he was knocked unconscious and wasn’t cleared to return to play for several months.
“I just wonder if something happened,” she said. “Because what he did was so out of character for him. It’s like, okay, wow, something has taken over this sweet kid that I never would imagine would do something like this. And that just led me to think if something had taken over him, maybe it’s his own brain that’s working against him.”
The foundation has more than 650 donations. It advocates for the study and treatment of brain trauma in at-risk groups, including football players and veterans.
Lee played in 11 games this season and had 12 tackles. He grew up two hours away from Richmond in Fairfax and was reportedly homesick. He also was displaying unusual behavior, his mother told the Post.
Phyllis Lee said her son called her in tears after Thanksgiving, telling her he was lonely and wanted to come home. She said he saw a mental health professional the next day and they had a neurological screening set up for over winter break. He returned to school to finish out the semester. His final exams were Tuesday.
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