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How did Cameron Burrell die? Track star, 26, was son of Olympic champs and godson to Carl Lewis

Cameron Burrell was also the godson of legendary track and field icon Carl Lewis who had nine Olympic gold medals to his name

Cameron Burrell, a track and field champion with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), has died tragically at the age of 26 years. His death was ruled a suicide by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. An alumnus of the University of Houston, Burrell was hailed as America's fastest college athlete. His unfortunate death was mourned by the university in a statement on Tuesday, August 10. "We are devastated by the unexpected passing of alumnus Cameron Burrell. We offer our sincerest condolences and support to the Burrell family and all who knew him, including Cameron's many friends, coaches and teammates," the university wrote.

Burrell, who died on Monday, August 8, 2021, was notably the son of two Olympic gold medalists — Leroy Burrell and Michelle Finn-Burrell. His father Leroy had clinched the gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, while his mother Michelle won the gold in the women's 4X100 meter relay the same year. Burrell was also the godson of legendary track-and-field icon Carl Lewis who had nine Olympic gold medals to his name. The 26-year-old athlete is survived by his parents and his two brothers, Joshua and Jaden. 

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Leroy Burrell, who is a longtime track-and-field coach at the University of Houston, released a heartbreaking statement about his son's death. "My family is extremely saddened with the loss of our son, Cameron, last night," he stated, adding, "We are going through profound sorrow and ask that all of our friends, extended University of Houston family and the track and field community in the U.S. and abroad allow us to gather with our closest family and friends. We are profoundly grief stricken, and thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support."

How did Cameron Burrell die?

It has been revealed that Burrell died from a gunshot wound to his head in a parking lot. The sprinter fatally shot himself on August 8, inside the parking garage in Houston, Texas. It is unclear what prompted the athlete to take such a drastic step.

Cameron Burrell was a star sprinter who became the NCAA Division I champion in 100 meters in 2018. He even topped his father's record of running the 100 meters by 0.01 seconds. He was also a part of the 4x100 meter relay team at the University of Houston, and ran the anchor leg in 2018.

Throughout his athletic career, Burrell earned several All-American honors. As a junior athlete, he was a member of the United States 4x100 meter relay team which won gold at the World Junior Championships in 2012. His team also won a gold at the 2018 Athletics World Cup and a silver at the 2019 World Relays.