Jovan Belcher Drunk During Murder-Suicide; Shot Girlfriend Kasandra Perkins 9 Times

The Associated Press reported that Belcher, 25, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit, at the time of his death.

Before driving to Arrowhead Stadium, Belcher shot his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, who had almost no alcohol in her system at the time, nine times, killing her. Neither autopsy report revealed any illegal drugs.

They left behind a 4-month-old daughter. Both sets of grandparents have filed for custody of the girl, Zoey, who now has her own court-appointed lawyer.

The couple’s relationship had become strained in recent months, at least in part because Belcher had been involved with another woman since March. He spent the last night of his life partying with the other woman while Perkins attended a concert with a group of her friends.

Perkins was shot in her neck, chest, abdomen, hip, back, leg and hand with a .40-millimeter handgun, according to the autopsy report.

Police came upon Belcher sleeping in his car early in the morning of Dec. 1, hours before the murder-suicide took place. The police report admitted Belcher “initially displayed possible signs of being under the influence (asleep and disoriented)” at that point, but after a few minutes his “demeanor and communication became more fluid and coherent.”

After being released by the police, Belcher tried to calling his other girlfriend to stay with her but she told police she didn’t see his missed calls until the following morning. Two women on the scene invited Belcher to stay with them, later saying he “appeared to be intoxicated” but “seemed to be in good spirits.”

Belcher returned home after roughly two hours of sleep and began arguing with Perkins. Cheryl Shepherd, Perkins’ mother, who had moved in with the couple weeks before, told police she heard gunshots and saw Belcher kneeling over Perkins’ body while apologizing.