The tragedy of Jovan Belcher

The weekend murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher and his 22-year-old girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, is a grim reminder of the toll in lives domestic violence takes, how common such tragedies are even among highly successful people who otherwise would seem to have everything to live for — and how easily a dispute can turn lethal when a handgun is within reach.

December 3, 2012