Sports

Former NFL Player Junior Seau Is Dead; Possible Suicide

By Mark Memmott

Published May 2, 2012 at 2:35 PM CDT

Junior Seau in 2009, when he played with the New England Patriots.

San Diego'sUnion Tribune reports that former NFL linebacker Junior Seau "has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his beachfront home."

It adds that:

"Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell said he was notified of the death and is on his way to be with family members."

According to The Associated Press, police in Oceanside, Calif., confirm Seau's death and have said he was found with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was 43.

The Chargers team has posted saying "everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now. ... We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."

Seau played with the Chargers for 13 seasons, the Miami Dolphins for three and the New England Patriots for four.

Update at 3:55 p.m. ET. Reminder Of Dave Duerson:

If Seau did commit suicide by shooting himself in the chest, comparisons will be made to the February 2011 death of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson. Before shooting himself in the chest, Duerson wrote a note asking that his brain be studied for chronic traumatic encephalopathy — a disease linked to depression. As NPR's Tom Goldman reported at the time, some NFL retirees have shown signs of the disease.

Last month, former Atlanta Falcon Ray Easterling committed suicide. He was part of a lawsuit against the NFL over head injuries and was suffering from dementia. He shot himself in the head, police in Richmond, Va., told the news media.

Update at 3:45 p.m. ET. Police Say It's Being Investigated As A Suicide:

Oceanside Police Chief Frank McCoy just told reporters outside Seau's home that the former player was found by a woman who said she was his girlfriend. He was still alive, but "suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest," McCoy said. "A handgun was found near the body."

Efforts to save Seau were unsuccessful.

The case, McCoy said, is "being investigated as a suicide."

Moments before McCoy spoke, Seau's mother made an emotional appearance at the microphone. "I don't know who do this to my son!" she said. "Take me!"