Family and friends quietly buried Jovan Belcher Wednesday, 12 days after his murder-suicide shook the NFL and stunned a nation.
More than 300 people turned out at Upper Room Christian World Center in Dix Hills for the funeral of the West Babylon native and one-time Kansas City Chiefs linebacker.
Pastor Dawn Mixon tried to make sense of the tragedy at the funeral, according to Newsday. "We may not understand what caused this tragedy," Mixon said. "There are many of those who have their thoughts and opinions on what took place. But God does not judge us on our thoughts and opinions."
Belcher, 25, who was in his fourth season with the Chiefs, shot himself in the parking lot of the team's practice facility Dec. 1 after Kansas City Police said he shot and killed his 22-year-old girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins.
Belcher shot Perkins multiple times at the couple's home. He then drove to Arrowhead Stadium, thanking Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli for all they had done for him. He then turned the gun on himself.
Belcher and Perkins leave behind a three-month old daughter, Zoey.
The noon service finished around 1:45 p.m. Police stopped traffic to allow the hearse and family and friends following to go to North Babylon Cemetery, where he was buried.
Mixon described Belcher as a "humble, kind young man" who had a soft spot for children and enjoy cartoons, according to an AP report.
A graduate of West Babylon High School, Belcher played college football at the University of Maine.
