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| Kansas City Chiefs observe moment of silence for domestic violence victims | Kansas City Chiefs observe moment of silence for domestic violence victims |
| (8 days later) | |
| Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs joined players in a moment of silence for victims of domestic violence Sunday, a day after the apparent murder-suicide of one of the NFL team's linebackers. | Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs joined players in a moment of silence for victims of domestic violence Sunday, a day after the apparent murder-suicide of one of the NFL team's linebackers. |
| The game against the Carolina Panthers went ahead Sunday despite the deaths yesterday of 25-year-old Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins. | The game against the Carolina Panthers went ahead Sunday despite the deaths yesterday of 25-year-old Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins. |
| Ahead of the kickoff, supporters of both teams observed a silent tribute to those affected by domestic abuse. It had earlier been stressed that the moment was not to be taken as honouring Belcher, whom police believe fatally shot his girlfriend before taking his own life outside the team's training facility. | Ahead of the kickoff, supporters of both teams observed a silent tribute to those affected by domestic abuse. It had earlier been stressed that the moment was not to be taken as honouring Belcher, whom police believe fatally shot his girlfriend before taking his own life outside the team's training facility. |
| In a statement released on Saturday, team officials announced that the game against the Panthers would go ahead at the scheduled time Sunday afternoon after discussions with the NFL, Chiefs players and head coach Romeo Crennel. | In a statement released on Saturday, team officials announced that the game against the Panthers would go ahead at the scheduled time Sunday afternoon after discussions with the NFL, Chiefs players and head coach Romeo Crennel. |
| It is believed that Crennel was present in the parking lot outside the Arrowhead stadium when Belcher shot himself in the head. | It is believed that Crennel was present in the parking lot outside the Arrowhead stadium when Belcher shot himself in the head. |
| Authorities in Kansas City were first alerted to a domestic incident Saturday morning at a house that the player shared with his 22-year-old girlfriend and their three-month-old daughter. | Authorities in Kansas City were first alerted to a domestic incident Saturday morning at a house that the player shared with his 22-year-old girlfriend and their three-month-old daughter. |
| A Kansas City police spokesman, Darin Snapp, said a female caller told police a woman had been shot multiple times. The injured victim was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead by doctors. The caller is thought to have been Belcher's mother, who witnessed the crime. | A Kansas City police spokesman, Darin Snapp, said a female caller told police a woman had been shot multiple times. The injured victim was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead by doctors. The caller is thought to have been Belcher's mother, who witnessed the crime. |
| After the shooting, Belcher drove to the team's practice facility at Arrowhead Stadium, still armed with a gun. The stadium was put on lockdown, and officers were called to the scene. | After the shooting, Belcher drove to the team's practice facility at Arrowhead Stadium, still armed with a gun. The stadium was put on lockdown, and officers were called to the scene. |
| Belcher, still in his car, encountered the Crennel and Kansas City Chief's general manager, Scott Pioli. Police said Pioli and Belcher talked for a short while and there was no threat made by Belcher to anyone else. Pioli expressed support for Belcher but as police began to arrive the player started to walk away in the opposite direction. He then suddenly shot himself in the head. | Belcher, still in his car, encountered the Crennel and Kansas City Chief's general manager, Scott Pioli. Police said Pioli and Belcher talked for a short while and there was no threat made by Belcher to anyone else. Pioli expressed support for Belcher but as police began to arrive the player started to walk away in the opposite direction. He then suddenly shot himself in the head. |
| "They said the player was actually thanking them for everything they'd done for him. They were just talking to him and he was thanking them and everything. That's when he walked away and shot himself," said Snapp. | "They said the player was actually thanking them for everything they'd done for him. They were just talking to him and he was thanking them and everything. That's when he walked away and shot himself," said Snapp. |
| Clark Hunt, the Chiefs owner, said in a statement that the entire Chiefs family was "deeply saddened" by "this unthinkable tragedy". | Clark Hunt, the Chiefs owner, said in a statement that the entire Chiefs family was "deeply saddened" by "this unthinkable tragedy". |
| Saturday's events dampened the normally festive tailgating ahead of Sunday's games. | Saturday's events dampened the normally festive tailgating ahead of Sunday's games. |
| "It is a sad situation, but to me, ultimately, the man committed murder," said Chiefs fan Tony Alonzo. "The big picture is that it was a murder." | "It is a sad situation, but to me, ultimately, the man committed murder," said Chiefs fan Tony Alonzo. "The big picture is that it was a murder." |
| For many, thoughts turned to the young child orphaned by Saturday's shootings. | For many, thoughts turned to the young child orphaned by Saturday's shootings. |
| "That is who you feel for, this three-month-old child," fan Ira Thomas said before the game. "She has to grow up without her parents and as she gets older someone in the family will tell her what happened and that might set her back a few years." | "That is who you feel for, this three-month-old child," fan Ira Thomas said before the game. "She has to grow up without her parents and as she gets older someone in the family will tell her what happened and that might set her back a few years." |
| At the stadium there was the odd tribute to Belcher, one fan held aloft a sign stating "RIP #59" – a reference to the linebackers team number. | At the stadium there was the odd tribute to Belcher, one fan held aloft a sign stating "RIP #59" – a reference to the linebackers team number. |
| But there was no mention of his name ahead of the moment of silence. | But there was no mention of his name ahead of the moment of silence. |
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