 | Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the team's training facility and killed his girlfriend in a seperate shooting Saturday morning, Kansas City Police spokesman Darin Snapp said. | |
New York - December 1, 2012 - Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the team's training facility and killed his girlfriend in a seperate shooting Saturday morning, Kansas City Police spokesman Darin Snapp said.
The shooting occurred at 8:10 a.m. local time at the team's facility near Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City Police Communication Supervisor Kathy Childs said.
Belcher also was suspected of killing of a 22-year-old woman who was his "on again, off-again" girlfriend at a nearby residence earlier in the morning, Snapp told NFL.com's Albert Breer. Police have not released the woman's name, but confirmed she and Belcher had a three-month-old child.
"About (7:50 a.m), we got a call to a residence, in regards to a shooting, on the 5400 block of Crysler Ave.," Snapp said by phone. "We arrived and the lady there informed us that her daughter had been shot by her on-again, off-again boyfriend. The young woman was taken to a local hospital, where she died a short time later.
"At about 8:10 a.m., we received a call to the Arrowhead practice facility in regards to a black male armed with a gun in the parking lot, and he matched the description of the shooting suspect," Snapp continued. "Officers arrived, saw a black man with a gun to his head, and some Chiefs employees. As the officer got out of his car, he heard a gunshot. It appeared the individual shot himself. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead."
According to Snapp, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, coach Romeo Crennel and another unnamed Chiefs staff member were talking to Belcher just before he shot himself, Breer and NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported. Snapp said Pioli and Crennel "never felt like they were in danger." Belcher thanked Pioli and Crennel for all that they had done for him.
When officers arrived, Belcher walked in the opposite direction from where they were all standing. He then shot himself, Snapp said.
Snapp said the shooting occurred outside the front doors of the facility.
The Chiefs released a statement in regard to the incident:
"We can confirm that there was an incident at Arrowhead earlier this morning. We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation."
The Chiefs are scheduled to play host to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers reportedly have been told by the NFL to keep plans to travel to Kansas City for the game.
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