The Kansas City Police Department has released their report following the tragic murder/suicide involving Jovan Belcher and Kasandra Perkins, and it contains chilling details about Belcher’s actions leading up to the incident, and his final moments in front of Kansas City Chiefs personnel. From the Kansas City Star:
Less than two months ago, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher sent a foreboding text message to a secret girlfriend, expressing turmoil and frustration with his longtime girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins.
In the message, Belcher said he “would shoot” Perkins “if she didn’t leave him alone,” according to police reports obtained by The Star. At the time, the secret girlfriend thought Belcher was joking.
The report also states that Belcher told his secret girlfriend that Perkins “knew exactly how to press his buttons and make him angry” and had “threatened to take all his money and his child if they split up.” Belcher’s mother, Cheryl Shepard, moved in with the couple to help repair their relationship, just two weeks before the shooting. Then, on December 1st, Shepard heard the two arguing, but didn’t get involved (Perkins had previously accused her of “interfering” in their confrontations). She only responded when she heard gunshots. Police later determined that Belcher hit Perkins’ front side ten times, and five more times in her back — a bullet that made its way to the basement indicates she was also shot while on the floor.
A distraught Belcher hopped in his Bentley and drove to the Chiefs facility. An eyewitness recounts Belcher’s exchange with GM Scott Pioli:
“I’m sorry Scott, I’ve done a bad thing to my girlfriend already. I want to talk with Gibbs and Romeo. You know that I’ve been having some major problems at home and with my girlfriend. I need help! I wasn’t able to get enough help. I appreciate everything you all have done for me with trying to help … but it wasn’t enough. I have hurt my girl already and I can’t go back now.”
Pioli immediately summoned Crennel, who pleaded with Belcher as police arrived on the scene: “You’re taking the easy way out!”
Belcher glanced at an approaching police officer , then knelt behind a minivan, made the sign of the cross on his chest with his left hand and fired a bullet into his head above his right ear. After the gunshot, Crennel slumped, dropped his hands and turned away from Belcher.
Many witnesses, including Crennel, say the problems between Perkins and Belcher stemmed from money issues — Perkins hoped that being with an NFL player would provide for a better life — but Crennel stated that Belcher was “smart with his money and didn’t live outside his means”.
via Kansas City Star, ESPN, TMZ
