Chiefs player kills girlfriend and commits suicide

[EmpireWF]

I read how his short term memory was crap after his last game. He's not a victim in the sense that every football player plays knowing they put their health at risk.

But it's part of never knowing 100% WHY a guy did it. But we can know based on first hand accounts that Belcher was not totally right in the head.

He also had painkiller and alcohol issues apparently. Plus the personal problems leading up to their final argument...bad all around.

[ralaw]

I read how his short term memory was crap after his last game. He's not a victim in the sense that every football player plays knowing they put their health at risk.

But it's part of never knowing 100% WHY a guy did it. But we can know based on first hand accounts that Belcher was not totally right in the head.

He also had painkiller and alcohol issues apparently. Plus the personal problems leading up to their final argument...bad all around.

I read that as well, but does that have to automatically be a part of understanding why he did this? Again, this happens almost everyday, so it seems to me a part of it would be understanding that people do this sort of thing. We don't know what happened nor do we know what was going on with him, but I just don't like the idea of categorizing every NFL player's death or incident with head trauma. If the argument is head trauma creates an abnormal mind and affects judgment eventually a good lawyer will be able to argue that anytime an NFL player gets arrested for anything it should be blamed on head trauma.

The game of football has been played for a long time, but it hasn't been until recently with concussion awareness have we started to learn more and bring the head trauma argument up. I don't doubt that it some cases it can have an impact or is to blame, but not for everyone. Is Rae Carruth just a POS or was he a victim of head trauma? What if Belcher just snapped and killed and then realized what he did and didn't want to deal with the repercussions and just killed himself? It is sad to say, but murder suicides are also a part of life.

[bucky]

And that S from Washington, Taylor, would likely still be alive if he had a handgun. You can site many, many instances of just the opposite of what Costas was saying.

[mgoblue2290]

Is it? This sort of thing happens almost everyday, but with those incidents we don't categorize them the same. The reason I take issues with how with football players we are so quick to justify an incident as it being caused by head trauma, which IMO gives the impression that the athlete is some how a victim. For incidents like Junior Seau's I can understand, because he was showing signs of long before he killed himself, but is this the case with Belcher?

I feel the same way. I think its an excuse for what he did to be honest. He's put up on high because he is a pro athlete and people don't want to believe a guy they cheered for is capable of something like this, so you look elsewhere for blame. I'm not trying to down play concussions or head trauma and its long term effect, I just don't think that should be used in this scenario.

Also, Bowe is pointing in the wrong direction.

[SethMode]

And that S from Washington, Taylor, would likely still be alive if he had a handgun. You can site many, many instances of just the opposite of what Costas was saying.

Costas' idea that making guns illegal will make them disappear is stupid, but at least it's consistent. If guns disappeared, these people wouldn't be dead. The same cannot be said if you put a gun in Taylor's hand. This is not a good analogy.

(Let's not turn this into a gun control debate over Costas being dumb, I just don't think you can just offhandedly make it sound like if everyone had guns it would have the same effect as no one having guns).

[SethMode]

Also, Bowe is pointing in the wrong direction.

Dude already spelled the guy's name wrong, I think you're expecting too much.

[EmpireWF]

I feel the same way. I think its an excuse for what he did to be honest. He's put up on high because he is a pro athlete and people don't want to believe a guy they cheered for is capable of something like this, so you look elsewhere for blame. I'm not trying to down play concussions or head trauma and its long term effect, I just don't think that should be used in this scenario.

Not an excuse...just trying to frame what happened with what apparently is true about the guy. He had his demons and when the girl allegedly threatened to leave/get a lawyer, he freaked and lashed out. But, assuming it's true that his head suffered some kind of damage from years of football, have to wonder whether he was in a healthy state of mind and the argument is the dominant factor in his actions, or if otherwise.

End of story is he still chose the actions that took the life of an innocent person. Same thing with Benoit in 2006, we know for a fact his brain was fried and the horrific actions of the finals days of his life are not representative of the first however many years of his life. He still murdered two innocent people.

[ralaw]

Belcher spent night with a gal pal before killing

KANSAS CITY, Mo — He was playing the field.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher had a boozy dinner with another woman and spent the night at her apartment before he went home, fought with and killed his girlfriend, and then ended his own life in a practice-facility parking lot, sources said yesterday.

After dinner and drinks Friday night at a local tavern, the former Long Island high-school star took the woman, Brittni Glass, to her home, but spent the next several hours asleep in his Bentley outside her building, neighbors said.

After cops roused him from his drunken slumber at about 2:30 a.m., Belcher went inside Glass’ building and re-emerged about four hours later.

“I was with him that night, that’s it,” a reluctant Glass told The Post yesterday.

Belcher drove away at about 6:45 a.m., making the 10-minute ride to the home he shared with Kasandra Perkins, the mother of his 3-month-old daughter.

Cops said Belcher quarreled with Perkins and shot her nine times as his own mom watched in horror. Perkins’ body was found on a bathroom floor.

Belcher leaned over Perkins’ body and kissed on her forehead before he apologized to his mom, kissed his 3-month-old daughter and took off, according to the Kansas City Star.

Chiefs officials knew about the couple’s ongoing beefs and provided counseling, Kansas City police Sgt. Richard Sharp said.

After fleeing his home, Belcher drove to the Chiefs’ practice facility at 8 a.m. and shot himself in the head with a different gun in front of the team’s coach and general manager.

Glass said she told police they had been together that night.

Cops confirmed that several people came forward to tell them about Belcher’s visit.

“His Bentley was parked outside,” a neighbor said. “He went upstairs. He was drunk. He went up to see the girl.’’

Early reports said Belcher flew into a rage after Perkins returned late from a Trey Songz concert at about 1 a.m.

But according to Glass and her neighbors, Belcher wasn’t even home then.

Residents said they had seen Belcher — who had a $1.9 million contract with the Chiefs this year — and his distinctive black Bentley at the building several times in recent months.

Glass said she and Belcher were not in a relationship and declined to say exactly where he slept.

Meanwhile, a new report said Belcher had been violent in a past relationship.

In 2006, while a grid star at the University of Maine, he punched his fist through a window because he was “upset with a girl,’’ said a police report obtained by USA Today.

Less than a year later, campus cops responded to a complaint of disorderly conduct at a dorm after someone “became concerned about the raised voices” of Belcher and a girlfriend outside his room, the paper said..

Yesterday, Perkins’ family broke its silence for the first time since the tragedy.

“Our wish is for Kasi to be remembered for the love she shared with us all. Kasi will be truly missed,” they said in a statement.

As some people questioned why Belcher needed a gun — much less two — some teammates defended the right.

“If you have daughters, you should [have a gun],” said defensive lineman Shaun Smith.

Linebacker Brandon Siler, who had Thanksgiving dinner with Belcher, added, “Most of the time, they’re for self-defense or sport.”

When Belcher reached team headquarters, he got out of his car with a gun in his hand, came upon GM Scott Pioli and said “I did it, I killed her,” police told the Star newspaper.

Sports Illustrated said Belcher specifically asked to speak to his coaches before ending his life.

“I came here to tell you thank you,” Belcher told Pioli. “Thank you for my chance. I love you, bro.”

Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs arrived a short time later and Belcher reportedly said, “Guys, I have to do this,” according to the Star.

“I was trying to get him to understand that life is not over,” Crennel told the newspaper. “He still has a chance and let’s get this worked out.’’

With police sirens blaring in the background, Belcher then walked away from the men.

“I got to go,” Belcher said. “I can’t be here.”

Belcher went to a knee, made the sign of the cross across his chest before shooting himself in the head.

[Guest]

I don't know if it was posted it, but I was listening to the NFL radio shows on XM yesterday while on the road for work, and you've got to feel for Jamaal Charles now. His wife's first cousin was Perkins, and he introduced the two to each other. I can't believe all that the Chiefs are feeling right now, but especially for Charles.

[MrBill]

Belcher is quickly going from slightly sympathetic to a bullying controlling monster and wanna be player.

[dave]

According to Nfl.com the daughter will be taken care of:

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Belcher's daughter will be financially taken care of, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports. Belcher's death benefit breaks down in the following ways:
» For the next four years, Zoe or her guardian (or estate) will receive $9,000 per month or $108,000 per year.
»For one year, she'll receive $48,000.
»Until she's 18 or 23 (depending on if she goes to college), she'll receive $52,000 per year.

[Warner2BruceTD]

According to Nfl.com the daughter will be taken care of:

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Belcher's daughter will be financially taken care of, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports. Belcher's death benefit breaks down in the following ways:
» For the next four years, Zoe or her guardian (or estate) will receive $9,000 per month or $108,000 per year.
»For one year, she'll receive $48,000.
»Until she's 18 or 23 (depending on if she goes to college), she'll receive $52,000 per year.

Holy shit.

I'll raise her if nobody steps up.

[dave]

The Collective Bargaining Agreement says white Republicans aren't allowed to raise her. :D

[ralaw]

According to Nfl.com the daughter will be taken care of:

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Belcher's daughter will be financially taken care of, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports. Belcher's death benefit breaks down in the following ways:
» For the next four years, Zoe or her guardian (or estate) will receive $9,000 per month or $108,000 per year.
»For one year, she'll receive $48,000.
»Until she's 18 or 23 (depending on if she goes to college), she'll receive $52,000 per year.

LOL, that type of money is going to destroy that family. People are going to be fighting to take guardianship.

[Hitman]

I think these folks already had some money, but I could be wrong. Both Belcher and Perkins were college graduates. Could have been student loans for her I guess but that's usually an indicator that $50-100k isn't gonna make people go nuts trying to steal this kid.