Jovan Belcher Drunk During Murder/Suicide, Autopsy Shows

Jovan Belcher, the former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker who shot and killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself, had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit when it happened.

A new autopsy report shows Belcher was drinking at some point during the day before he shot 22-year old Kasandra Perkins to death following a disagreement. Belcher, whose mother had moved in with him and Perkins to help with their newborn daughter, said she heard the argument get violent before several gunshots went off in the bedroom of their home. She ran in to find Belcher kneeling over Perkins, visibly upset, and he left quickly. He later showed up at the football stadium where his team was practicing and shot himself in front of his coach and the Chiefs’ general manager.

The couple’s argument led to speculation that there was infidelity involved, and some said Belcher was distressed because he believed their infant daughter wasn’t actually his.

Now that the autopsy report has come back, many are wondering why the police didn’t intervene when they found him sitting in his idling car early on the morning of the shooting. Reports say officers discovered Belcher asleep in his car outside the apartment of a friend and had him arrange to sleep it off at the friend’s house.