Jovan Belcher Struggled With Head Injuries, Drinking & Painkillers?

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Head injuries, alcohol and painkillers reportedly lead to Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher committing suicide at the team’s training facility on Dec. 1, approximately an hour after shooting his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins dead.

Jovan Belcher, 25, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 1. His death occurred approximately an hour after he shot and killed girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, 22. According to a new report, Jovan was drinking every day and experiencing short-term memory loss. The report also suggests that head injuries and painkillers may have contributed to Jovan’s mental state.

“[Jovan and Kasandra] have been arguing for quite sometime and had separated 2 weeks ago,” Deadspin reports. The source adds, “[Jovan] had brought her and their baby back home, but they were both arguing on a regular basis. Both of them are/were very young and immature and that combined with other factors led to this tragedy.”

Their fights allegedly focused on Kasandra failing college classes that Jovan paid for and quitting her retail job. Kasandra reportedly threatened Jovan on a regular basis, telling him that she would hire a lawyer and “get as much money as possible.”

Unfortunately, Jovan’s alleged alcohol abuse, use of painkillers and blows to the head added fuel to the fire and lead to the tragic shooting.

“When it comes to prescription medication, it is unclear from my perspective whether it was diagnosed and authorized by the team or not,” a friend said. “However I know he was under the influence of narcotics for pain and I’m sure the toxicology report will reflect this. However, Jovan drank A LOT. On a nightly basis. This is not a mystery as he did so in public and private. When it comes to his concussions; if you review the footage of the Cincinnati game he took a few hits to the head directly [...] he was dazed and was suffering from short term memory loss. He could not remember the events that had taken place prior to that game or what he had said to get [Kasandra] to return home.”

Jovan Belcher Murder-Suicide: Kansas City Police Details

The incident took place after a related, earlier off-site shooting, a Kansas City police spokeswoman Darin Snapp told NFL.com.

“About (7:50 a.m), we got a call to a residence, in regards to a shooting, on the 5400 block of Crysler Ave,” Darin said. “We arrived and the lady there informed us that her daughter had been shot by her on-again, off-again boyfriend. The young woman was taken to a local hospital, where she died a short time later.”

“At about 8:10 a.m., we received a call to the Arrowhead practice facility in regards to a black male armed with a gun in the parking lot, and he matched the description of the shooting suspect,” Darin continued. “Officers arrived, saw a black man with a gun to his head, and some Chiefs employees. As the officer got out of his car, he heard a gunshot. It appeared the individual shot himself. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”

“We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation,” a team statement said, confirming the incident.

More on Jovan & His Girlfriend, Kasandra

Jovan and girlfriend Kasandra Perkins had a baby less than three months ago, on Sept 11.

Jovan grew up on Long Island, New York and played for the Maine Black Bears in college, where he was named first team All American in the Football Championship Subdivision. Jovan agreed to a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009 after not getting drafted. In 2011, he became a starting linebacker for the team.