Quantcast

Junior Seau Dead: Police Investigate Shooting

Junior Seau
Junior Seau (Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Junior Seau
FILE -In this In the Oct. 7, 2007 file Photo, New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

Former NFL linebacker, Junior Seau, was found dead at age 43 inside his California home on Wednesday.

Police in Oceanside, Calif. confirmed the report, and said they are investigating his death as a suicide.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Seau died from a self-inflicted gun shot wond to the head. He was reportedly discovered by his girlfriend inside his bedroom.

According to the Associated Press, police responded to a shooting at Seau’s house at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities have yet to release a cause of death.

Seau recently sent text messages to his family, telling them “I love you,” according to TMZ.

The former San Diego Chargers great leaves behind three kids and an ex-wife.

The Chargers released a statement, 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.”

“He was a local hero,” Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood told the North County Times, “he certainly gave back to the community and to the youth through his Junior Seau Foundation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

Seau retired in 2009 as a member of the New England Patriots. He had more than 500 tackles during his career and sacked the quarterback 56.5 times. The 6-foot-3, 250-lb. linebacker also had 18 interceptions.

The San Deigo Chargers drafted Seau with the fifth pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. He spent 13 seasons with the Chargers before leaving for Miami in 2003. Three years later, Seau joined Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Over that time he developed an impressive resume that included 12-straight Pro Bowl appearances (1991-2002) and six First-Team All-Pro selections (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000.)

He played in 268 games during his career.