Chiefs' Player Jevon Belcher involved in murder-suicide, shoots self at Arrowhead

[MoreLemonPledge]

No details yet. Just came across on the news.

edit: Sources say the player is Jovan Belcher. Police have yet to confirm.

An unnamed Kansas City Chiefs player has committed suicide at the team facility and authorities are on the scene, the police confirmed to ESPN on Saturday morning.

Local reports say police are operating with the belief the player fatally shot his girlfriend at a house before driving to Arrowhead Stadium and killing himself at around 8 a.m local time. The Associated Press reported the player's age to be 25.

"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."

There were no other injuries at the team facility, police said.

The Chiefs (1-10) were preparing to host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The NFL has told the Panthers to travel as planned to Kansas City on Saturday, the Charlotte Observer has reported, citing interim general manager Brandon Beane.


http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/86...-team-facility

[banyon]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Honesty, I didn't know the guy so I have no idea what kind of person he was. From all accounts he was a good teammate and player and was not a trouble maker in any way shape or form.

I am also smart enough to know that not everyone that has killed someone, and I mean committing murder, is or was a patently bad person.

Really it doesn't take that much IQ to understand this. Crimes of passion are not the same as being a calculated killer.

I'm sorry, but in the end, these were choices he made, and it's hard to imagine any circumstances whatsoever that convert the murder of an infant's mother into a positive choice. You are what you do, not how you'd like to see yourself.

Originally Posted by Marcellus

The term temporary insanity exist for a reason.

Actually, many jurisdictions don't allow this defense anymore, and with good reason.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

You asked I answered. It would have took all of 5 minutes to clean it out which they should have done. The guy killed one of his own teammates family members for crying out loud.

This too. That's an important distinction.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by banyon

Murderers of infant mothers are horrific. I don't really care to assign a percentage to it.

It will take time for those close to him to see this for the cowardly, despicable act that it was. People who weren't close should have better sense.

They never will. And I'm speaking from my own personal experience.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by banyon

You said the organization should act like it's a significant loss. Not only that, but it's wrong to not treat it that way. Then you said they should "allow his friends to "honor their fallen teammate".

Here was the exact quote, since you seemed to have forgotten it:



It's 100% wrong. Sorry.

Meaning that they just can't act like some people on this board and see things black and white. There are relationships involved here. It IS a significant loss to many people ON THAT TEAM but more so off of it. He was a son, father, possibly brother, friend, mentor, idol, teammate BEFORE he was a murderer.

While they certainly don't need to CELEBRATE him they do not need to try to make him insignificant either. The facts do that for themselves. And there are plenty of people who are there to make sure every moment of his life leading up to yesterday don't matter....like you.

So once again, let the individual players and his friends do what they need to and what they can live but do not go out of your way as an organization to glorify OR trash him.

[Ultra Peanut]

tl;dr: Life is really ****ing complicated, you guys. Don't let your shock turn into anger at people who are dealing with a tremendous mind**** at the moment.

[ForeverChiefs58]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

The org memorialized him privately for his family, the team.

Publicly they are not memorializing him.

They're doing it right.

Agreed. I thought they also did the right thing taking a moment of silence before the game for victims of abuse.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

While they certainly don't need to CELEBRATE him they do not need to try to make him insignificant either.

Yes, they do. At least from a team perspective (organizationally and informally), that's EXACTLY what they have to do.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by ForeverChiefs58

Agreed. I thought they also did the right thing taking a moment of silence before the game for victims of abuse.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

tl;dr: Life is really ****ing complicated, you guys. Don't let your shock turn into anger at people who are dealing with a tremendous mind**** at the moment.

Yup!

[GoShox]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

The org memorialized him privately for his family, the team.

Publicly they are not memorializing him.

They're doing it right.

I've been on this board a very, very short time. But I can't think of a single post you've made where I didn't agree with you.

Once again, spot on.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by ForeverChiefs58

Agreed. I thought they also did the right thing taking a moment of silence before the game for victims of abuse.

Right. They recognized DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS not one particular one. This is a healthy and wise step. Likewise would be donating to Safehome or some other type of shelter.

Doing this does not diminish or demean the memory of Belcher to those who loved him and is a positive action.

[ChiefMojo]

I see that there is some backlash with Arrowhead Pride posting a pic of Belcher's jersey in his locker.

In my opinion they shouldn't show that pic to the general public and the Chiefs fans. He is basically memorialising someone who committed a horrible crime. Leave it to the Chiefs players, coaches and staff to do what they want in private but don't show it to the world expecting sympathy. Belcher doesn't deserve public memorial status.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by ChiefMojo

I see that there is some backlash with Arrowhead Pride posting a pic of Belcher's jersey in his locker.

In my opinion they shouldn't show that pic to the general public and the Chiefs fans. He is basically memorialising someone who committed a horrible crime. Leave it to the Chiefs players, coaches and staff to do what they want in private but don't show it to the world expecting sympathy. Belcher doesn't deserve public memorial status.

IIRC anything that is in the locker room is generally considered private status. It's not like it was on the field or in the awards room.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by banyon

Yes, they do. At least from a team perspective (organizationally and informally), that's EXACTLY what they have to do.

Yup that would set an example the players would never forget. Kill your GF and self and we will immediately take down your locker!

That should prevent this from ever happening again and further more would remove all conflicted feelings the players have towards their former teammate.

Problem solved.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Yup that would set an example the players would never forget. Kill your GF and self and will immediately take down your locker!

That should prevent this from ever happening again and further more would remove all conflicted feelings the players have towards their former teammate.

Problem solved.

Not to mention I think that means they 'own' the problem. If they knew he was like this and everyone turned looked the other way then I can see where there would be a responsibility by the team to make amends. But they did nothing other than employ a guy they thought they knew. I don't see how the Chiefs need to 'own' any of this. If they choose to become an advocate against DV that is their choice but not a requirement.

Let's not forget that Pioli and Crennel are victims of Belcher's violence as well. They didn't suffer death but they had to witness a loved one commit their own.