The mother of Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher, who fatally shot his 22-year-old girlfriend before killing himself at Arrowhead Stadium, says the days since the shooting have been very difficult but that she loves her son and the slain girlfriend.

Cheryl Shepherd told The Associated Press Wednesday that she had a "beautiful relationship" with Kasandra Perkins, whom Belcher shot Saturday at the home they shared in Kansas City with their 3-month-old daughter Zoey. Shepherd had been staying with the couple to help with the baby and made the emergency call when Perkins was shot.

Shepherd said in a brief telephone conversation that she has been working on funeral arrangements for her son, but hasn't been sleeping or eating much since the shootings. She says her baby granddaughter is doing "fine."