The tragic death of former NFL star Doug Martin while in the custody of Oakland police has sparked widespread concern within the community. Friends and family are speaking out about the mental health struggles Martin faced, even as authorities continue their investigation into the incident.

Over the weekend, Martin, who once thrilled fans as an NFL running back, was found dead following a police encounter at a residence in the Oakland Hills. According to police accounts, Martin was involved in a break-in and later became unresponsive during a struggle with officers, ultimately leading to his death while detained.

Martin’s former agent shed light on the challenges Martin faced, revealing that the football player had been battling mental health issues in private. “Doug’s parents were desperately seeking medical help for him and had reached out to authorities for assistance,” the agent explained. “Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug left his home at night and mistakenly entered a neighbor’s house just a couple of doors away.”

While the Oakland Police Department has refrained from commenting on Martin’s mental health, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation, the community is eager for answers.

Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston, who has been in communication with the police regarding the case, expressed his understanding of the situation. “He was reportedly near a house he was familiar with. It’s possible he was confused—we just don’t know yet,” Houston remarked. He added his confidence in the thoroughness of the police investigation, noting, “The department has 45 days to release the footage from the incident, and we will be watching closely.”

Some criminal justice experts call for more training.

“Police departments, they have to – they’re first responders – they have to be trained in recognizing when a person is having a mental health episode,” Cal State East Bay criminal justice professor Lisa Hill said.

“Police are trained to subdue the suspect as quickly as possible and they are trained to meet noncompliance, which is often what happens with people in mental health crisis – with force,” Oakland community activist Cat Brooks said.

Bodycam footage will be released by December.

“We don’t want to lose anyone like this,” Houston said.