By now you may have heard the news Kansas City Star: “Jovan Belcher“, the Chiefs linebacker, shot and killed his longtime girlfriend Kasandra Perkins then drove to the team’s practice facility, thanked his general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel for all they’ve done for him, then shot himself. The story has shocked everyone who knew the NFL athlete. Both family and friends that have known the star since high-school had nothing but good remarks of the star; many citing that he was passionate about football and off the field he seemed to have the picture -perfect life with GF, Kasandra and their 3 month-old daughter.
So what triggered this horrific act of violence?
The Kansas City police department says the following occurred just moments before Belcher committed suicide.
Belcher and his girlfriend [Kasandra Perkins] — who had just given birth to the couple’s child three months earlier — began arguing around 7:00 AM local time…Lindaman says Belcher shot Perkins multiple times and she was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police says Belchers mother witnessed the shooting and called police to the home…..Belcher then left the scene and drove to Arrowhead stadium where he was confronted by team personnel, including GM Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel. According to police, they tried to keep Belcher from committing additional acts of violence…..Just as police arrived on the scene, they heard a gunshot and discovered Belcher had shot himself in the head. Cops say before firing the shot, Belcher thanked Pioli and Crennel for all they had done for him. The coaches stated that they did not feel threatened by Belcher.
A friend of Kasandra Perkins [who decided to remain anonymous given the sensitivity of the case] tells the story of what may have triggered the argument prior to the fatalities of Perkins and Belcher’s death. The friend states that Kasandra and a few of her friends went to a Trey Songz concert just hours before and Belcher was reportedly angry that Kasandra had stayed out so late. Kasandra returned to the home a little after 1:00am and an argument erupted between the two. Six hours later, Perkins was shot multiple times.
Another close friend says that Perkins was nice person, who loved being a mother but notes that she was one to never speak of her personal affairs with her Belcher.
“She was a very good person; she was fun to be around and very loving,” she said. “I don’t know why he’d want to hurt her like that….I love her and I wish she was still here … and I wish Jovan was still here, too. I think they could have worked it out. It shouldn’t have happened…..I was just over there a few days ago and everything seemed fine and they seemed to be happy,” she said. “We were good friends, but they liked to keep their relationship personal.”
No-Comment! This is truly a sad tragedy. My condolences to both Belcher and Perkins family during their time of loss and my sincere and deepest prayers for their three-month old daughter who now has to grow up without both of her birth-parents. So Sad! SMH!