The Kansas City Chiefs arranged counseling for linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend in a bid to help them iron out troubles in their relationship, the Kansas City Star reported.
Belcher shot and killed 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins at their Kansas City home on Saturday, then drove to the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium and shot himself in the head.
Kansas City police sergeant Richard Sharp told the newspaper in an article published on Tuesday that the Chiefs had provided counseling and “were bending over backward” to help the couple, who left a three-month-old daughter.
Sharp said police believe that as he travelled the five miles from home to the stadium Belcher was stricken with remorse.
“He probably realised he had done something and he couldn’t go back,” Sharp said.
“He cared about her,” Sharp added. “I don’t think he could live with himself.”
In the parking lot of the training facility Belcher came upon Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli. Belcher got out of his car with a gun pointed to his own head, police said.
Head coach Romeo Crennel and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs then arrived and tried to reason with Belcher.
“I was trying to get him to understand that life is not over,” Crennel told The Star. “He still has a chance and let’s get this worked out.”
As police, alerted by an emergency call, closed in, Belcher walked a short distance away and shot himself.
Police believe Belcher and Perkins argued before the shootings and said that immaturity and financial pressures may have played a role.
Autopsies with toxicology tests were performed on both bodies, but results are not expected for weeks.
Belcher, girlfriend received counseling – report
