Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher allegedly kills girlfriend, commits suicide at Arrowhead practice facility
A Kansas City Chiefs player has allegedly shot his girlfriend and then himself, according to Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forte’s Twitter account. The player involved is linebacker Jovan Belcher, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. UPDATE: Kansas City police have identified the victim as 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins.
La Canfora also reports that Chiefs GM Scott Pioli and Coach Romeo Crennel were outside the team facility at the time Belcher killed himself. Belcher “thanked both men before taking his life, and that Pioli and Crennel did not feel threatened.”
KCTV Channel 5 is reporting that the Chiefs player allegedly killed his girlfriend and then himself this morning. The woman was shot at 54th and Crysler Avenue around 8 a.m.
There is a conflicting report: KMBC Channel 9 is reporting that the woman is in critical condition. Update: Kansas City police have confirmed that both the player and the girlfriend are dead. The only confirmation on the identities from police is that the player was a 25-year-old black male and the woman was a black female in her 20s.
Here’s the official word from the Chiefs: “We can confirm that there was an incident at Arrowhead earlier this morning. We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation.”
610 Sports’ Danny Parkins sent this Tweet: “The player apparently was confronted with #Chiefs coaches in the parking lot before he put the gun to his head and committed suicide.”
Deadspin has posted photos of Belcher, his girlfriend and their child.
The Star, citing an unnamed friend of the victim, reports that Belcher and his girlfriend argued after she came home late from Friday’s Trey Songz concert at the Midland.
Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt released the following statement:
“The entire Chiefs family is deeply saddened by today’s events, and our collective hearts are heavy with sympathy, thoughts and prayers for the families and friends affected by this unthinkable tragedy. We sincerely appreciate the expressions of sympathy and support we have received from so many in the Kansas City and NFL communities, and ask for continued prayers for the loved ones of those impacted.
“We will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities and work to ensure that the appropriate counseling resources are available to all members of the organization.”
TMZ reports that the victim’s family never saw any problems in the couple’s relationship.
Update: The Chiefs-Panthers game will go on as scheduled Sunday. Here’s the statement from the Chiefs:
“After discussions between the league office, Head Coach Romeo Crennel and Chiefs team captains, the Chiefs advised the NFL that it will play tomorrow’s game vs. the Carolina Panthers at its originally scheduled time.”
