Cops: Jovan Belcher, Kansas City Chiefs player from Long Island, kills girlfriend, self

Cops: Jovan Belcher, Kansas City Chiefs player from Long Island, kills girlfriend, self

Photo credit: AP | Kansas City Chiefs' Jovan Belcher (59) stands on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in upstate Orchard Park. (Sept. 16, 2012)

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, 25, fatally shot his girlfriend early Saturday, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of his coach and general manager, police said.

Police spokesman Darin Snapp identified Belcher, a fourth-year player from West Babylon, who played college ball at Maine. The woman's name has not yet been released.

Snapp said Belcher shot the woman at a Kansas City residence, then drove to the Chiefs facility. Belcher thanked Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel for all they had done for him, then shot himself, police said.

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The Kansas City Star reported on its website, Kansascity.com, that police Capt. David Lindaman said Belcher and his girlfriend, 22, got into an argument about 7 a.m. at their home in the 5400 block of Chrysler Avenue in Kansas City. About 7:50 a.m., Belcher shot his girlfriend multiple times, according to the website. She was then taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Lindaman said Belcher's mother, who was visiting the couple and their 3-month-old daughter, witnessed the shooting and was being interviewed by police.

Belcher then left the scene and went to the Chiefs' practice facility near Arrowhead Stadium, police said. The Star reported that police were called to the stadium about 8:10 a.m. When Belcher arrived at the facility, he encountered general manager Scott Pioli, coach Romeo Crennel and other team personnel. Police said Chiefs staff attempted to keep Belcher from committing further violence. When police arrived, they heard a gunshot and saw that Belcher had shot himself in the head.

Belcher graduated in 2005 from West Babylon High School, where he played linebacker, tackle, nose guard and fullback. As a senior, Belcher led his team to its first undefeated regular season. He was a three-time All-America selection as a prep wrestler.

He went on to become a star linebacker at the University of Maine, where he graduated with a degree in child development. In 45 career college games, Belcher, recorded 293 tackles, 18.0 sacks and seven forced fumbles.

He joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He became a starting inside linebacker this season.

Arrowhead Stadium has been on lockdown since about 8 a.m.

"We can confirm that there was an incident at Arrowhead earlier this morning," the Chiefs said in a statement. "We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation."

The Chiefs say Sunday's home game against the Carolina Panthers will go on as scheduled. The Panthers were told to go through with their travel plans to Kansas City on Saturday afternoon, according to the team's interim general manager, Brandon Beane.

With Robert Brodsky

Source : http://www.newsday.com