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.

PHOTOS: Jovan Belcher through the years | 52 notable 2012 sports deaths

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

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Jovan Belcher's college coach says family was everything to him

Jovan Belcher's college coach says family was everything to him

Jovan Belcher played his college ball at the University of Maine and joined the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

(Photo: Charles LeClaire, US Presswire)

Those close to Jovan Belcher during his college playing days at the University of Maine recalled his love of family, making the tragic news all the more senseless. His position coach at that time, Dwayne Wilmot, recalled the easiest way to make Belcher smile was to tell him his mother was coming to a game at Orono. More than anything, Belcher wanted to make his brood proud.

"Family was paramount for Jovan, you could see it at every game," said Wilmot, now a coach at Yale. "His family showed up in force. He relished the opportunity to make them proud as a student and an athlete. He did what he did for their love and their adulation.

MORE: Belcher kills girlfriend, then commits suicide

"I'm devastated right now," he added. "Trying to hold together."

To the Maine athletics community, Belcher was a light - the longshot who reached the pinnacle in the NFL. His native Long Island is not considered a pro football hotbed, and he converted from outside linebacker to defensive end during his college career. Belcher then made the tricky and unglamorous switch to inside linebacker for the Chiefs as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2009.

When asked if Belcher had any off-the-field concerns in college, Wilmot mentioned he had some maturity issues but nothing out of the ordinary. He also offered that Belcher completed his college studies early.

BACKGROUND: Who was Jovan Belcher?

"Kids ages 18-22, they all have things they'd like to do over," the coach said. "When I was that age there were things I'd like to do over. To see him grow and evolve in that time, it is an absolute and utter shock to be talking about Jovan in the past tense.

"What you saw was the burning desire to be successful," he continued. "If he had the opportunity, he'd make the most of it … this is a tragic end, but his life had a greater good than just this tragic end."

Source : http://www.usatoday.com

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Tony Richardson in 'total shock' after Jovan Belcher suicide

Tony Richardson in 'total shock' after Jovan Belcher suicide

Tony Richardson knows what people are thinking right now: Why would Jovan Belcher do this?

The popular former Chiefs fullback, who played 11 seasons for the franchise, also was in "total shock'' after hearing the news Saturday morning that the 25-year-old linebacker murdered his girlfriend then committed suicide at the team's practice facility.

"People think how can a young man with the world in front of him, making good money and playing on a national stage, do something like that?,'' Richardson told USA TODAY Sports. "But you just don't understand the mental state of what some people are dealing with. It's sad.''

Follow: Updates on Jovan Belcher suicide

Belcher's college coach: "Family was paramount for Jovan"

Richardson played for the Chiefs from 1995-2005. He finished his career with the New York Jets but still owns a home in Kansas City.

"In a small-market (city), people really love their Chiefs' players,'' he said. "They know everything about every player. It's a big family and a very close-knit community. This was a young man people followed and cheered for. It's devastating.''

Rich Gannon, a CBS analyst and former Chiefs quarterback, told USA TODAY Sports "it has been a difficult year for everybody there'' with the team's on-the-field struggles.

"You feel terrible for the victim, for (Belcher), the families, the team, for (Chiefs coach) Romeo (Crennel), (general manager) Scott (Pioli) and (owner) Clark Hunt,'' Gannon said. "What else can you say? It's just a sad (day).''

Source : http://www.usatoday.com

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Shark Attacks Oregon Man in Hawaii

Shark Attacks Oregon Man in Hawaii

Getty Images

A 61-year-old man from Oregon  was attacked and injured by a 10-foot shark while snorkeling in Hawaii, authorities said.

The attack occurred at about 9:35 a.m., when the man from Lake Oswego, Ore., was snorkeling near a shore in Kihei, Hawaii, Maui Police officials said in a news release.

The shark bit the man’s left calf and he sustained a deep laceration, according to a preliminary investigation.

Medical first responders said that the man’s injuries were “consistent to that of a shark bite,” the news release said.

READ: Summer 2012 Shark Attacks 

The man was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

After the incident, authorities closed the beach and were monitoring the area.

It was unclear what type of the shark was involved in the attack.

Source : http://abcnews.go.com

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Jessica Simpson Pregnant Again? See Her Road-to-Babies Timeline With Fiancé Eric Johnson

Jessica Simpson Pregnant Again? See Her Road-to-Babies Timeline With Fiancé Eric Johnson

Oh, baby!

Jessica Simpson is reportedly baby bumpin' again just seven months after giving birth to little Maxwell.

The much-buzzed-about pregnancy news has hit the Web in the wake of the Weight Watchers spokeswoman's spectacular weight loss, and Simpson even debuted her slimmed-down figure less than two weeks ago.

Whether true or false, there's no doubt we're obsessed with baby Maxwell and would love to see a sibling for Jess and fiancé Eric Johnson's bundle of joy. 

Check out Jess filming her Weight Watchers ad

So let's take a look back at the engaged couple's road-to-babies timeline while the pregnancy rumor mill is still on a roll!

July 2010: Jessica Simpson is spotted celebrating her 30th birthday in Italy with new beau Eric Johnson (the twosome reportedly began dating in May). At the time, Johnson's divorce is not yet finalized and Jessica is still recovering from her breakup with Tony Romo, who dumped the blond beauty just one day before she turned 29. 

November 2010: After a whirlwind romance and quick courtship, Simpson and her footballer beau announce they are engaged. The couple shares the wedding news just days after Jessica's ex-husband Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo announce they are also planning to walk down the aisle.

Jessica Simpson shows off slim post-baby body in tight pants

July 2011: The Fashion Star mentor is snapped with what appears to be a baby bump, but the singer's rep shoots down the pregnancy rumors.

Oct. 31, 2011: Jess finally confirms her pregnancy on Twitter and posts an adorable pic of herself dressed up as a mummy for Halloween as she clutches her baby bump. The caption? "It's true—I am going to be a mummy." Too stinking cute! 

Nov. 9, 2011: In an exclusive interview with E! News, Simpson reveals that she "wants a lot of kids" and admits that she "could be pregnant forever."

Jessica Simpson is pregnant—see the twitpic! 

Jan. 6, 2012: In the course of her much-talked-about pregnancy, Jessica announces that she's adding a maternity line to her fashion empire.

March 7, 2012: A very pregnant Simpson poses nude on the cover of Elle magazine and reveals her little girl will have a "nontraditional name." 

March 13, 2012: Jess, who's never had a shortage of TMI 'tude, admits she calls herself "Swamp Ass" because of her giant baby belly. She later tells Jimmy Kimmel that she feels like she has a "bowling ball" sitting on her "hoo-ha" and blames her extra-large bump on her "amniotic fluid."

See Jess' fab post-baby bod! 

May 1, 2012: Jessica gives birth (after what feels like forever) to a beautiful baby girl, whom she and Eric name Maxwell Drew Johnson. The first photos of their bundle of joy are sold to People magazine for a cool $850,000.  

May 30, 2012: The too-cute pics on the cover of People hit newsstands. Baby Maxwell is just 4 weeks old.

Sept. 5, 2012: The new Weight Watchers spokeswoman talks losing the baby weight and admits her body is not "bouncing back like a supermodel." 

Jessica Simpson's baby Maxwell reveal—who's her godmother?

Sept. 10, 2012: Jess tells Katie Couric that she and Eric have still not set a wedding date, noting that it "won't be this year" but gushing that "motherhood is a dream." 

Nov. 18, 2012: Simpson debuts her svelte new figure in Florida while promoting her clothing line. She reportedly shed 60 pounds of baby weight. 

Nov. 28, 2012: Us Weekly reports that Jessica is pregnant again, just seven months after giving birth to little Maxwell. 

Source : http://uk.eonline.com

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Is Jessica Simpson Pregnant Again?

Is Jessica Simpson Pregnant Again?

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Jessica Simpson could be gaining back some of the 60-plus pounds she lost after giving birth to daughter Maxwell Drew in May.

Us Weekly reports that the singer and “Fashion Star” mentor is pregnant again.

The magazine quoted a source saying, “It definitely wasn’t planned. But yes, Jessica is pregnant again.”

Simpson’s spokeswoman declined to comment on the report to ABCNews.com.

The baby would be the second for Simpson, 32, and her fiance, pro football player Eric Johnson, 33.

The pop star recently shed more than 60 pounds she gained while pregnant with her daughter through a Weight Watchers-controlled diet and four-times-a-week workout sessions with her trainer.

“In over 20 years, I’ve never seen as consistent of a weight loss,” her trainer Harley Pasternak told Us last month. “Jessica’s right where she needs to be.”

Simpson’s Weight Watchers leader Liz Josefsberg told the magazine, “She’s very brave to do this in a healthy, more realistic way.”

RELATED: How Jessica Simpson Lost 60 Pounds of Baby Weight

On the premiere of Katie Couric‘s talk show in September, Simpson admitted that there was a “lot of pressure” on her to lose weight.

She had a lot of incentive, though. Earlier this year, Simpson signed a reported $3 million contract to be the celebrity face of Weight Watchers.

If she is indeed pregnant, it’s unclear how this might this affect her contract with the weight-loss program.

“Any questions related to Jessica’s personal life can only be answered by her team,” company spokeswoman Stephanie Shulman told ABCNews.com. “We do not disclose financial details about any of our relationships with our ambassadors.”

Source : http://abcnews.go.com

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