NFL player Jovan Belcher in murder-suicide

VIDEO: KANSAS City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide.

KANSAS City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of his coach and general manager after first thanking them for everything they had done for him.

The murder-suicide stunned the pro football team and came one day before a home game against the Carolina Panthers. The National Football League said the game would go ahead as scheduled.

Belcher, a 25-year-old from West Babylon on Long Island in New York state, played college ball at Maine.

He had played all four of his NFL seasons for the Chiefs and played in every game each year, including the 11 so far this season.

Before turning the gun on himself, Belcher thanked Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel for all they had done for him, police spokesman Darin Snapp said.

Friends and relatives

Authorities received a call Saturday morning (local time) from a woman who said her daughter had been shot multiple times at a residence about 8km from the Arrowhead complex.

A call was then received from the Chiefs' facility.

"The description matched the suspect description from that other address. We kind of knew what we were dealing with," Snapp said.

The player was "holding a gun to his head" as he stood in front of the front doors of the practice facility.

"And there were Pioli and Crennel and another coach or employee was standing outside and appeared to be talking to him.

"The suspect began to walk in the opposite direction of the coaches and the officers and that's when they heard the gunshot."

The coaches told police they never felt in any danger

"They said the player was actually thanking them for everything they'd done for him," Snapp said.

"That's when he walked away and shot himself."

Media at Arrowhead

Snapp described the girlfriend as in her early 20s and that she and the player had a child together. He said the woman's mother told police they had recently been arguing.

The season has been a massive disappointment for the Chiefs, who were expected to contend for the AFC West title.

They're just 1-10 and mired in an eight-game losing streak that has been marked by devastating injuries and fan upheaval, with constant calls the past few weeks for Pioli and Crennel to be fired.

For help in suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 131114 or the SANE Helpline, 1800 18 7263.