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Subscribe to RSSThe day after Kansas City Chiefs' linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend and then killed himself, fans mourned a tragedy. NBC's Than Truong reports.
The relationship between Kansas Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, became strained after the birth of their daughter, family and friends say.
Belcher, 25, fatally shot Perkins, 22, Saturday and then drove to a stadium parking lot where he committed suicide in front of two coaches and the team's general manager, leading many to wonder what went wrong in Belcher's promising young life.
Perkins’ friends and family described a fraught relationship, though Belcher's family said outsiders can't really know what was going on between them.
The night before she was killed, Perkins went to a Trey Songz concert with some friends "to take a break," Lynell Diggs, a friend who was with her told Newsday.
"He [Belcher] didn't want her going out with the baby at home," said Diggs.
PFT: Coach says he 'wasn't able to reach the young man'
According to police reports, Belcher and Perkins were arguing around 7 a.m. on Saturday. Also at their home was Belcher's mother, who was visiting to help care for their three-month-old daughter, Zoey Michelle.
Around 7:50 a.m., Belcher shot Perkins several times. She was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Belcher drove 15 minutes to Arrowhead Stadium where he stood in the parking lot and thanked general manager Scott Pioli, head coach Romeo Crennel and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs, for what they had done for him, news reports said. Belcher had played three seasons for the Chiefs and had started in nearly every game.
Then he pulled the trigger.
Angela Perkins, 32, Perkins' cousin, told Newsday that Belcher and Perkins hadn't been getting along for some time. She had visited around the time the baby was born, she said.
She said having a baby and Belcher's busy schedule strained their relationship, according to Newsday.
Ed Zurga / AP
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, left, and coach Romeo Crennel stand together before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday, the day after witnessing linebacker Jovan Belcher kill himself.
Perkins' Instagram profile suggested a different story. On Friday, fewer than 24 hours before she died, she posted photos of Belcher smiling and kissing their daughter.
Outside Belcher’s mother’s home Saturday in West Babylon, N.Y., where he grew up and attended high school, friends and family gathered. Jerseys and Letterman jackets had been hung up along the outside of the house. Trophies and photographs lined the ground beneath.
They raised plastic cups to toast Belcher, who was described as quiet, thoughtful, a role model.
Belcher played football in West Babylon but wasn't recruited to play college ball, according to the Boston Globe. Rather, he was a star wrestler who kept trim — 6-foot-2 and under 200 pounds.
In 2008, Belcher told the Globe: "I do like being the underdog because you can come up and surprise people."
At the University of Maine, Belcher became the team captain and was named national defensive player of the year.
"When he got to campus, he was a phenomenally impressive young man, in how he conducted himself in and around the young men in our program," Maine coach Jack Cosgrove told the Globe at the time. "We were fortunate nobody else recruited him."
Cosgrove described Belcher's "infectious smile" and said he was a great role model who worked well with children — the football player had been a child development and family relations major.
MSNBC's Alex Witt talks with The Nation's Dave Zirin about the Kansas City Chiefs playing on Sunday, a day after linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then himself.
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totally agree with above posters, why are people toasting and saluting this man with plastic cups? the girlfriend is dead and a little baby is without parents; he must have had problems, but he certainly doesn't deserve a shrine
Jovan Belcher is and will forever be, a murderer. A cold blooded killer, a man who gunned down a lovely young woman, the mother of his child. Left his little girl without her mommy. Who cares that he had an "infectious smile" etc. No one!
I guess for his family and friends, people who knew him in better days he is something more. For the rest of us, a selfish loser monster. Condolences to those who are grieving.
There will be people with an opposite opinion, but here is what I think:
It's better for a married couple to have a baby than for an unmarried couple. Yes, there are exceptions, but I prefer for people to stick with the general rule.
Lets be honest, just another coward and selfish person who couldn't handle his problems so he takes it out on his child's mother. If you want to take your life go ahead. Leave everyone else out of it. There's a place in hell waiting for you.
Larry Miles That is the best thing I have read for a comment. I too would start to watch sports. LoL..
Yes they did---27-21. I'm a season ticket holder and attended the game. It was pretty somber and there was a moment of silence before the national anthem for all domestic violence victims. The guy in the video above: that is just his opinion. They decided to play and they played well. He can complain and rant all he wants about the coaches and players decision to play the game: they did and nothing he can do about it. Playing the game took their minds off of this tragedy and the NFL commissioner contacted them at the team hotel at 9:30 on Saturday nite, giving them the option not to play. The "Team" decided to play--period. Their choice and decision----- Let the guy in the video b@#$ch all he wants to. What I didn't like to see was some fans had Javon Belcher's picture and #59 on signs they took into the stadium: R.I.P. , Never forget, etc, but nothing about the girlfriend he murdered and the 3 month old baby that has no parents now. CEO of the Chiefs, Clark Hunt is setting up a trust fund for the baby, as all of the players were most concerned about the child, and the families of everyone victimized by this act of violence.
Now that is so very SAD !!!! To think that there were people there that dismiss the fact that all Javon Belcher was nothing more then a COWARD/ MURDERer !!!!!!! SO SAD !!!!!
EXAMINER.COM
"What was behind the epic argument that Kasandra Perkins had with her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, Jovan Belcher? He killed her at 7:50 a.m. Saturday morning by shooting her multiple times at their home in front of her mother. According to a Dec. 1 report by the Kansas City Star, friends say the fact she was out late after a Trey Songz concert Saturday night contributed to the fatal fallout.
A friend of Kasandra's claimed Jovan was mad at her for staying out with friends late. At one point in the evening he called her wanting to know when she'd be home. She arrived around 1 a.m. after drinking with friends and enjoying the concert. Seven hours after her fight with Jovan, the NFL player shot her. The two of them had a baby daughter just three months ago. The infant -- Zoey Michelle Belcher -- is now in her grandmother's custody.
Other friends of Kasandra Perkins emphasize that the 22-year-old cared about people a lot and was studying to be a schoolteacher. She was introduced to Jovan Belcher by the wife of another Chiefs player."
*Not sure how accurate the examiner's reporing is, but it's close to another that I will post shortly.
Why did Jovan recently ask his mom (grandma) to come live with them? She'd only been with them a week or so. Was he already planning this? And it's kind of odd that when grandma called the police she referred to Kasandra as her daughter and never named the shooter as her son. She referred to the shooter (her son) as a "Chief." I think that's a bit strange.
I didn't catch that...odd indeed!
By Alex Groberman, Sun, December 02, 2012
"Jovan Belcher’s decision to commit murder-suicide shocked the sports world to its very core yesterday. Among the many questions that everyone who heard this story were left with, the biggest and most looming one was: why? Why would a man with a three-month-old daughter and seemingly everything to live for do something this horrifically insane?
There needs to be a lengthy official investigation into the specifics of what drove Belcher to murder Kasandra Perkins before taking his own life; however, over the past 24 hours, friends of the pair have tried to provide a bit of insight into what -- they think -- the final straw in this relationship may have been.
According to the Kansas City Star, Belcher and Perkins had an argument early Saturday morning that may have led to this tragic final outcome.
According to a friend of Kasandra Perkins, the woman killed today by Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, the couple argued in the early morning hours after the woman was out late attending Friday’s Trey Songz concert at The Midland.
The friend, who asked not to be identified, said Belcher confronted Perkins when she returned home about 1 a.m.
The couple had dated about three years and argued frequently, the friend said, but she wasn’t aware of any prior physical abuse.
On Sunday morning, Deadspin attempted to elaborate a bit on that report by painting a picture of Belcher’s mental state in the final weeks, days and hours of his life. Based on their correspondence with an unnamed friend of the former Chiefs linebacker, it is clear that Belcher was dealing with a lot of demons.
Two key parts of the Deadspin piece:
When it comes to prescription medication it is unclear from my perspective whether it was diagnosed and authorized by the team or not. However I know he was under the influence of narcotics for pain and I'm sure the toxicology report will reflect this. However, Jovan drank AL OT. On a nightly basis. This is not a mystery as he did so in public and private.
When it comes to his concussions; if you review the footage of the Cincinnati game he took a few hits to the head directly [...] he was dazed and was suffering from short term memory loss. He could not remember the events that had taken place prior to that game or what he had said to get Kasi to return home.
And:
This was the result of a long term conflict. I'm referring to the rumors that this was solely related to an argument about her attending the Trey Songs concert... It wasn't. Kasi had left and taken Zoe (their daughter) to a relatives house without his consent and refused to come home. In addition to that she made it clear that she was leaving and wild contact a lawyer to "get as much money as possible". Her friends are speaking to the media so, I only feel write providing his perspective to this situation. It had little, if anything to do with one isolated argument.
At the end of the day, it isn’t particularly difficult to see where we will go from here. Some will come out and say that Belcher is a murdering monster and that people shouldn't rationalize his actions by making excuses for him. Others will point to circumstances that led to his psyche being as fragile as it was, and try to explain his actions using those circumstances. (Note: Not explain away, just provide context.) A different crowd will use this matter to further arguments regarding the sort of mental problems that NFL players have to deal with. And then another group will accuse that crowd of politicizing a tragedy for personal gain.
We’ve seen this movie before, even if it didn’t play out in the exact same way.
And then, when it's all said and done, this incident will fade away and eventually be forgotten just like each of the other approximately 600 murder-suicides that occur annually are typically forgotten."
Sounds to me like too much fortune and fame for a young and "IMMATURE" couple w/ too little respect for one another to handle? Of course, the narcotics/booze & possible head injuries (if true) probably didn't make things any better for this couple. Sorry for the child! :(
Doesn't sound like that to me. Sounds like HE had a lot of problems that caused them stress and she went out with her friends to a concert (after being with a newborn for 3 months and waiting for grandma to come stay and watch the baby).
Why is it either NOT his fault or everybody is to blame.
Why should money and manpower be wasted on a lengthy official investigation? Nobody is going to be brought to justice and the outcome isn't going to change at all. The perpetrator is dead. He found himself guilty of capital murder and imposed and carried out the death penalty on himself. Resources should be used for investigations that actually matter.
Her Instagram post told a different story?
HUH?! What was she supposed to do, post pics and details of her and Jovan fighting, losing sleep with a cranky baby, and Jovan behaving strangly? She did what you do with those sort of online scrapbooks. You post the good side of your life and family.
They should stop saying what a good guy he was. Not because it wasn't true, but because it makes no difference. How many quiet, good men who loved their families or volunteered at the church- ended up bringing a gun to work or killing their family, or having 3-4 wives and families on the side?
~I feel like there is this bizarre need to give a black male who isn't a thug or a lazy, illiterate jerk more credit than is given anyone else who does the same thing (as expected). Part of it is that role model for black boys thing. People loved Jovan for being a regular guy! They loved him for NOT being like most of the other pro "ballers"! And that poor black woman -who he shot several times (who loved him and their kid)- gets ignored for being a regular girl.~
I have to disagree Free. Most of us commenting here aren't saying he was a good guy. The idiots in the hood where he grew up are the ones toasting and placing Jersey shrines in the streets like he's some sort of hero/god to them! It happens all the time with blacks who become rich & famous and decide to throw it all away. I live about 40 miles from Gary (home of Michael Jackson)...he was a cute, talented little kid, but as an adult ...YUCK!!!!! However, when he died the nasty and very violent area he grew up in was swarming with mobs of people and turned into a shrine (BEATS ME)??? Most of the time it's blacks worshipping blacks, but I must say in Michael's case what I saw on the news looked about 50/50. Then again, he didn't murder people and was a victim of abuse himself. Just say'in, most white do not praise these low lifes...the blacks do! Whites generally don't like ANYONE who goes around just blowing people away w/o a damn good reason ie...fear for their lives etc..JMHO. ;)
Belcher was a coward, without question!!!...he didn't have the courage to face the consequenses of his murdering the mother of his daughter...he could have been a positive spokesman against familt violence had he faced the "music" of his murder!!!...his girlfriend is in heaven with god & jesus and belcher is burning in hell!!!
It was horrible for him to shoot his girl friend and in front of his mother. It was like he needed some type of revenge, or he had some type of unknown mental issues. Maybe he developed a serious breakdown and no one saw it coming. Then he goes to the football field and shoots himself in front of the coach, why? He could have parked the car somewhere else and did it. Was the loosing season for the Chiefs stressing him out...There are some missing pieces to this situation, and his girlfriend might have had some real answers...
I think many of these Pro players spend so much time out on the field with elevated testosterone levels that they are unable to function normally in the real world. Over sized hot heads who must have their way or else. Money doesn't make the man but to many women that sure seems to be the case. So here we have a guy who murders his daughter's mother who he appears to not see the need to marry and then goes and thanks his general manager and head coach before shooting himself. I think this shows what was most important to him and to think that he was a child development and family relations major.
~I feel like there is this bizarre need to give a black male who isn't a thug or a lazy, illiterate jerk more credit than is given anyone else who does the same thing (as expected). Even whites do this...."I love him!!! He's a decent guy." OK. Jovan was a decent guy who was trying. But their was something else under the surface and -from what I have read - his girlfriend Kasandra didn't make the problem or make it worse. She was just a 22 yr old in a relationship with a man she did not have the skill to help. Jovan was away from home alot- working (not being a playa or gambling like Mike Jordan) but she was stuck at home. Why couldn't she go out with her girlfriends to a concert? That was Jovan showing his dark or mentally ill side.
Part of the problem is that role model for black boys thing. People loved Jovan for being a regular guy and bothering to study in college! but people do that all the time. People loved Jovan for NOT being like most of the other pro "ballers"! That was asking too little. And that poor black woman -who he shot several times (who loved him and their kid)- gets ignored for being a regular 22 yr old girl.~
Family and relationship problems solved with GUNS!
When things appear to be getting that bad... find help or refuge.
People are already saying Kasandra cheated on him. This from reports that -after months at home with a newborn- she left her baby with the grandmother and went to a Treysongz concert with her GIRLFREINDS.
Question- how many jilted lovers kill their partners then go to work and thank their bosses?
Did anyone who was watching football this Sunday notice how the girlfriend was mentioned as an afterthought? There was all this footage of teamates crying and lamenting his death, with almost no mention of the fact that he was a cold blooded murderer. Wow! What a country we live in.
BG-Pretty sad if you ask me.She had family and was the victim not he.Society should stop worshiping these unknown athletes like Gods' when they commit horrendous things like this.
Look at the last paragraph of this article. After spending the entire article talking about what a super guy and a "great role model" he was, there's a tiny little mention at the end, "oh by the way, they had a moment of silence at the game for domestic abuse victims too". Effing ridiculous. I just started reading NBC news and don't think I'll be sticking around long, I'm disgusted.
I'm a season ticket holder and attended the game. It was pretty somber and there was a moment of silence before the national anthem for all domestic violence victims. The guy in the video above: that is just his opin
ion. They decided to play and they played well. He can complain and rant all he wants about the coaches and players decision to play the game: they did and nothing he can do about it. Playing the game took their minds off of this tragedy and the NFL commissioner contacted them at the team hotel at 9:30 on Saturday nite, giving them the option not to play. The "Team" decided to play--period. Their choice and decision----- Let the guy in the video b@#$ch all he wants to. What I didn't like to see was some fans had Javon Belcher's picture and #59 on signs they took into the stadium: R.I.P. , Never forget, etc, but nothing about the girlfriend he murdered and the 3 month old baby that has no parents now. CEO of the Chiefs, Clark Hunt is setting up a trust fund for the baby, as all of the players were most concerned about the child, and the families of everyone victimized by this act of violence.
And Yes they did win---27-21.
Quite a number of NFL players don't kill their families every weekend.
In any collection of people there will be a % of psychologically disturbed.
No one will ever really know what he was thinking leading up to this tragedy. And it will never make sense no matter what information is revealed. The saddest part of the story is the little baby who will grow up without her parents, who she only knew for a few months. Unfortunately, someone in her family will have to answer questions and ultimately tell her the truth. May that little girl grow up with a lot of family love and support.
Baby doesn't know crap at that age. Mt earliest memory was about 4 years old.
Stay tuned for tonights half time memorial for this murderer... Sick or what?
Women like Kasandra jump with their pan ties down at the blink of an eyelid to hook up with ball players knowing very well that they screw around but with the unrealistic caveat that they would turn out to be good for them. That they had a strained relatinship is nothing surprising. Kobe bryant, tiger woods, ............... That list includes almost all ball players, musicians, all the famous and rich or not so rich. The surprising thing if any is that the girls expect anything different from these guys. They don't give any thought for the nice guys out there. So whatever happened is just part of life.
The guy was a cold blooded killer.. best thing he could do was kill himself and save the courts and state millions on conficting and keeping him locked up forever...
Hmmmm.... I guess we should celebrate Belcher's humanity... after all, he shot her multiple times to avoid any suffering.