Orono, ME (Sports Network) - University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove
reacted with disbelief Saturday after one of his former players, linebacker
Jovan Belcher, killed himself at the Kansas City Chiefs' facility, moments
after killing his girlfriend.
According to Kansas City police, the 25-year-old Belcher shot his girlfriend,
22-year-old Kasandra M. Perkins, multiple times after the two had been engaged
in an argument at home. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Minutes after the first shooting, police said, Belcher drove to the Chiefs'
training facility at Arrowhead Stadium and spoke with team personnel,
including head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli, before
taking his own life with a gunshot.
Belcher, from West Babylon, N.Y., played at Maine from 2005-08. Cosgrove says
Jovan was a "tremendous student-athlete."
Cosgrove added, "His move to the NFL was in keeping with his dreams. This is
an indescribably horrible tragedy. At this difficult time, our thoughts and
prayers are with Jovan, Kasandra and their families."
As a senior co-captain in 2008, Belcher was named the CAA Football Preseason
Defensive Player of the Year and named to the Preseason All-CAA Team. In 44
career games, he had 293 tackles, 44 tackles for loss and 18 sacks.
He graduated from Maine in December 2008 with a bachelor's degree in child
development and family relations.
Belcher was in his fourth year with the Chiefs after signing as an undrafted
free agent out of Maine. He started 10 of the 11 games he had played this
season, registering 38 tackles.
The Sports Network