The Kansas City Chiefs NFL team is hosting a game at the stadium where one of their players shot himself dead after killing his girlfriend.

The crowd observed a moment’s silence for victims of domestic violence before the noon (18:00 GMT) kick-off against the Carolina Panthers.

But there was no mention of linebacker Jovan Belcher, who killed himself in front of team officials on Saturday.

The club says it is co-operating with authorities in their investigation.

Belcher, 25, shot dead Kasandra Perkins, 22, at their house five miles (8km) away from Arrowhead, early on Saturday morning.

The couple had a three-month-old daughter who was believed to have been in a nearby room at the time of the shooting. Belcher’s mother, who was also in the house, called the police.

Meanwhile, Belcher drove his Bentley to a training facility at the stadium where police sent to the scene saw the player holding a handgun to his head, talking to the Chiefs’ general manager, Scott Pioli and coach, Romeo Crennel.

Belcher had thanked the two men for giving him a chance in the NFL before shooting himself.

According to local TV station KMBC 9, a friend of Ms Perkins said the couple had squabbled the previous night but that there had been no evidence of any other problems between them.

The shootings come after criticism of the team’s senior management, following a poor start to the season which has seen the team record eight consecutive losses.

But a demonstration against the team’s leadership which had been scheduled for Sunday was called off after the deaths.

Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn said the news of the deaths was broken to the team at a meeting with Mr Crennel later on Saturday morning.

“It was obviously tough for coach to have to tell us that,” Quinn told the Kansas City Star. “He really wasn’t able to finish talking to us. We got together and prayed and then we moved on.”

Belcher, who had been with the Chiefs for four years, had played in all 11 games this season. Other players offered condolences on Twitter.

“I am devastated by this mornings events,” tweeted linebacker Tamba Hali. “I want to send my thoughts and prayers out to everyone effected by this tragedy.”

Friends and relatives gathered at Belcher’s childhood home on Long Island for an impromptu vigil on Saturday.

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