(CNN) -- The killing of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair has been classified as a murder-suicide carried out by his girlfriend, Nashville police Chief Ronal Serpas said Wednesday.
Steve McNair, 36, spent 13 seasons in the NFL, the majority with the Tennessee Titans.
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"The totality of the evidence clearly points to a murder-suicide," Serpas told reporters at an afternoon news conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville on Saturday afternoon. McNair was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest; Kazemi was shot once in her right temple, authorities said.
The police chief said McNair was probably asleep when he was first shot through his temple, then Kazemi shot him three more times. He said it is believed that Kazemi got next to McNair on the couch, then shot herself.
He said Kazemi had told at least one colleague that she planned "to end it all" and that her life was spiraling out of control. Serpas said Kazemi believed McNair was also involved with another woman. He said she was concerned "whether or not her relationship was unraveling with Mr. McNair."
"There was evidence that she was spinning out of control," Serpas said.
He added that there was no evidence found at the condo indicating anyone else was there at the time of the deaths. Serpas said he had spoken with McNair's wife Wednesday to update her on the investigation.
Dr. Feng Li, the assistant medical examiner who has been handling the case, told CNN earlier Wednesday that all evidence was "indicating that she killed Mr. McNair and killed herself."
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"It's almost an assured thing. We have to be convinced otherwise," Li said.
The coroner said he will not finalize the "manner of death" on Kazemi's death certificate until he has final lab test results, which are a few days away.
"I have to have everything together, and then I make the opinion," he said. "We want to be as thorough and as detailed as possible."
Li said Kazemi was found face-down in the condo with the gun underneath her. The autopsy indicates she shot herself once through her right temple. "She was found on the feet of Mr. McNair, who sat on the sofa," he said. A medium-caliber semiautomatic handgun was used.
"It's very hard for everybody involved," Li said. "Our thoughts and prayers go to the families."
Earlier in the week, police said that on Thursday evening, Kazemi purchased the pistol found at the scene. Hours before the purchase, Kazemi was pulled over in a traffic stop and charged with driving under the influence. She was accompanied by McNair in a Cadillac Escalade he had purchased for her.
McNair was allowed to leave the scene in a taxi after Kazemi was given a field sobriety test.
McNair, a married father of four, and Kazemi were dating, police said. Police found their bodies in the condo -- leased to McNair and his friend Wayne Neeley -- about 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The two had been dead for hours before Neeley, who had to use a key to enter the building, discovered the clothed bodies Saturday afternoon, according to police. Neeley then called his friend Robert Gaddy, who arrived at the condo and called police.
McNair spent 13 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Tennessee Titans, where he excelled on the field as quarterback. He was named the NFL's co-MVP in 2003 and spent his last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before announcing his retirement in April 2008. Read more about McNair's NFL history »
The Titans reached the Super Bowl in 2000, losing to the St. Louis Rams. McNair led the Titans in a dramatic comeback that day, with a final tying touchdown coming up a yard short.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/08/mcnair.shooting/index.html
Steve McNair, 36, spent 13 seasons in the NFL, the majority with the Tennessee Titans.
1 of 2
"The totality of the evidence clearly points to a murder-suicide," Serpas told reporters at an afternoon news conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville on Saturday afternoon. McNair was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest; Kazemi was shot once in her right temple, authorities said.
The police chief said McNair was probably asleep when he was first shot through his temple, then Kazemi shot him three more times. He said it is believed that Kazemi got next to McNair on the couch, then shot herself.
He said Kazemi had told at least one colleague that she planned "to end it all" and that her life was spiraling out of control. Serpas said Kazemi believed McNair was also involved with another woman. He said she was concerned "whether or not her relationship was unraveling with Mr. McNair."
"There was evidence that she was spinning out of control," Serpas said.
He added that there was no evidence found at the condo indicating anyone else was there at the time of the deaths. Serpas said he had spoken with McNair's wife Wednesday to update her on the investigation.
Dr. Feng Li, the assistant medical examiner who has been handling the case, told CNN earlier Wednesday that all evidence was "indicating that she killed Mr. McNair and killed herself."
Don't Miss
Former NFL QB Steve McNair found shot to death
Police: McNair's girlfriend bought gun
"It's almost an assured thing. We have to be convinced otherwise," Li said.
The coroner said he will not finalize the "manner of death" on Kazemi's death certificate until he has final lab test results, which are a few days away.
"I have to have everything together, and then I make the opinion," he said. "We want to be as thorough and as detailed as possible."
Li said Kazemi was found face-down in the condo with the gun underneath her. The autopsy indicates she shot herself once through her right temple. "She was found on the feet of Mr. McNair, who sat on the sofa," he said. A medium-caliber semiautomatic handgun was used.
"It's very hard for everybody involved," Li said. "Our thoughts and prayers go to the families."
Earlier in the week, police said that on Thursday evening, Kazemi purchased the pistol found at the scene. Hours before the purchase, Kazemi was pulled over in a traffic stop and charged with driving under the influence. She was accompanied by McNair in a Cadillac Escalade he had purchased for her.
McNair was allowed to leave the scene in a taxi after Kazemi was given a field sobriety test.
McNair, a married father of four, and Kazemi were dating, police said. Police found their bodies in the condo -- leased to McNair and his friend Wayne Neeley -- about 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The two had been dead for hours before Neeley, who had to use a key to enter the building, discovered the clothed bodies Saturday afternoon, according to police. Neeley then called his friend Robert Gaddy, who arrived at the condo and called police.
McNair spent 13 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Tennessee Titans, where he excelled on the field as quarterback. He was named the NFL's co-MVP in 2003 and spent his last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before announcing his retirement in April 2008. Read more about McNair's NFL history »
The Titans reached the Super Bowl in 2000, losing to the St. Louis Rams. McNair led the Titans in a dramatic comeback that day, with a final tying touchdown coming up a yard short.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/08/mcnair.shooting/index.html
