KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Kansas City Chiefs officials knew that linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend were having relationship problems, and the team provided the couple with counseling in an effort to help, a police official said.
Belcher fatally shot Kasandra Perkins, 22, at their Kansas City home Saturday before shooting himself in the head in the Arrowhead Stadium parking lot in front of team officials who were trying to stop him, including general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel.
Police Sgt. Richard Sharp told The Kansas City Star for a Tuesday story (http://bit.ly/SDwg9m ) that the couple had been arguing over relationship and financial issues for months and that the team had been "bending over backward" trying to help them. Sharp didn't specify how long the couple had been undergoing counseling.
When Belcher arrived at Arrowhead on Saturday, he encountered Pioli in the parking lot and told him the assistance the team had offered hadn't fixed the couple's problems and now "it was too late," police told The Star.
Pioli tried to persuade Belcher to put down his gun as Crennel and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs arrived at the scene.
Belcher thanked the men for everything the team had done for him and asked if Pioli and team owner Clark Hunt would take care of his daughter, The Star reported.
After that, Belcher reportedly said, "Guys, I have to do this."
"I was trying to get him to understand that life is not over," Crennel said Monday. "He still has a chance and let's get this worked out."
When Belcher heard police sirens approaching, he knelt behind a vehicle and shot himself in the head.
Investigators believe Belcher killed himself because he was distraught over shooting Perkins, Sharp said.
"He cared about her," Sharp said. "I don't think he could live with himself."
The night before the killings, Perkins had attended a concert downtown with friends and Belcher had been out at the Power and Light District, police said, while Belcher's mother was watching their 3-month-old baby. Detectives don't know exactly what the couple was arguing about but The Star reported that Belcher was upset that Perkins had stayed out so late.
Autopsies with toxicology tests were performed on both bodies but it could be weeks before results are known, police said.
Police spokesman Darin Snapp said Monday that Belcher's mother was given temporary custody of the couple's daughter.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Chiefs provided counseling to Belcher prior to murder-suicideRelated Stories
- More Texas News
- National News
- International News
- Judge to hear new evidence in school finance case
- UT-Arlington returns to normal after bogus threat
- Appeal seeks halt to Texas woman's execution
- Telephone threat closes UT-Arlington campus
- Leander officer with warrant shoots therapy dog
- Plans for Astrodome's fate to be discussed
- Service set for officer hit by truck in Texarkana
- Judge may hear new evidence in school finance case
- Probe prompts child welfare workers to resign
- Man pleads guilty to smuggling snakes on planes
- Nobel recipient among winners of Jefferson Awards
- Bulger ex-enforcer grilled about varying stories
- Wooden beam could be detached part of shipwreck
- Republican Sen. Murkowski supports gay marriage
- Maine man charged in teen death pleads not guilty
- Father, son acquitted in NY of sex trafficking
- Aug. trial set for Ohio man in kidnapping of women
- Kerry to address top world issues on upcoming trip
- Woman convicted in LA train platform death
- Faith leaders asked to help members get legal help
- Military: Thurayas banned in northeast Nigeria
- Floods close Lourdes pilgrimage site in Pyrenees
- World powers to meet on Syrian rebel demands
- Egypt top cleric: Protests against Morsi permitted
- Israel to export 40 percent of its natural gas
- Nine killed along with seven attackers in Somalia
- Todashev's body brought to Russia for burial
- Myanmar court convicts Muslims over violence
- Obama renews call for nuclear reductions
- Iceland: 'informal talks' about Snowden asylum
Summer Reading Club
Automotive
Find valuable information about buying your next car, including price quotes and your latest automotive news.
We Know Why You're Awake
We Know Why You're Awake. We can help.
Wedding Central
The greatest Southeast Texas story ever told. Share your wedding and engagement news!
Lost and Found Pets
These are pets that have been lost or found in the KFDM News Channel 6 viewing area.
No Text Zone
Texting While Driving Kills Thousands of People Each Year. Many More are Seriously Injured. You Can Help Make Our Roads a NO TEXT ZONE
Texas Lottery
Texas Lottery
Community Calendar
Check out our Community Calendar!
Baby Talk
Baby Talk with Nicole Murray.
KFDM Channel 6 Top Stories
Business News
Asia Markets mostly down as investors eye Fed
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Asian markets were mostly lower today as investors waited for an update on the U.S. economy from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Consumer News
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Entertainment News
Get This
VEGAS STRIP-THRILL RIDE
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- If losing your shirt in Sin City isn't enough -- you could soon lose lunch.
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY SURVEILLANCE FOILED PLOT TO BOMB NYSE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S.
