Before gunning down his girlfriend Saturday, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher reportedly spent a drunken night with another woman. Belcher later turned a gun on himself at Arrowhead Stadium, ending his own life.
The night before his murderous rampage, Belcher dined and drank at a local tavern with the woman, Brittni Glass, before returning to her home, according to the New York Post. He spent the next several hours asleep in his Bentley, parked outside her building, until police awoke him at approximately 2:30 a.m.
Neighbors said the late NFL player spent the remainder of the wee hours inside Glass’ building before leaving around 6:45 a.m.
Glass reluctantly confirmed the report. “I was with him that night, that’s it,” she told The Post.
Neighbors also verified the report to the Kansas City police, saying, “His Bentley was parked outside. He went upstairs. He was drunk. He went up to see the girl.’’ They told authorities that Belcher and his vehicle had frequented the apartment complex in recent months.
Belcher returned home the morning of Dec. 1, and a final argument ensued between him and his long-time girlfriend Kasandra Perkins. He shot the mother of his 3-month-old daughter nine times. Belcher’s mother, who recently moved to the area to help care for their child, witnessed the horrific murder.
The Kansas City Star reported that Belcher kissed his girlfriend and child and apologized to his mother before traveling to Arrowhead Stadium.
At the stadium, the linebacker committed suicide in front of team officials, including general Manager Scott Pioli, head coach Romeo Crennel and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs. Belcher specifically asked to speak to the men before taking his life, according to Sports Illustrated.
On Tuesday, police revealed the Chiefs were aware of the volatile relationship and had been providing the couple with counseling.
Belcher had a history of engaging in domestic disputes with women.
In 2006, while enrolled at the University of Maine, Belcher seriously wounded his hand when he punched out a glass window because he was “upset with a girl,” according to a campus police report.
The report, obtained by USA Today, classified the incident as “criminal mischief” and detailed Belcher’s injuries as a “possible severed thumb and lacerations to the wrist.”
Police intervened again on Feb. 25, 2007 when a neighbor filed a complaint of disorderly conduct and noise at Belcher’s campus residence. According to the report, someone “concerned about the raised voices” of Belcher and a girlfriend called police.
Some have questioned America’s gun laws in the aftermath of the murder-suicide, even saying Belcher and Perkins would be alive if it weren’t for his handgun. (RELATED VIDEO: NBC uses NFL murder-suicide tragedy to make plea for gun ban)
Belcher’s teammates, however, defended gun rights.
“If you have daughters, you should [own a gun]. You never know when somebody might try to rob you or do whatever, you know?” said defensive tackle Shaun Smith.
Linebacker Brandon Siler, who had Thanksgiving dinner with Belcher, said Belcher’s use of firearms was unusual.
“Most of the time, they’re for self-defense or sport.”
