Ex-NFL Linebacker Junior Seau Found Dead, Suicide Suspected

Junior Seau, star linebacker for the San Diego Chargers and 20-year National Football League veteran, was found dead inside his Oceanside, Calif., home today, and police are apparently investigating a shooting incident there.

According to TMZ, “Cops are currently at Seau’s home — located in San Diego County — and were seen talking with a man who was inside the house and appeared distraught. ” TMZ further reports that Seau died of a “self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.”

Junior Seau was selected for the Pro Bowl 12 times in his legendary professional career. He was drafted as the fifth pick in the first round of the NFL 1990 draft out of USC, and played 13 years for the Charges, followed by stints with the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. He was a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and won many honors for his work on the defensive side of the ball. Seau was named first-team All-Pro six times.

Seau was also a member of the San Diego Charges Hall of Fame and was well known for creating the Junior Seau Foundation for child abuse prevention and drug and alcohol awareness among its other missions.

In 2010, he was arrested for domestic violence after allegedly assaulting his 25-year-old live-in girlfriend (although he was never formally charged). Five hours later, he drove his Cadillac Escalade off a cliff but only suffered minor injuries.

Seau, 43, who is divorced, leaves three children.

A statement posted to the San Diego Chargers website says “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.”

More details will be forthcoming as law enforcement completes its investigation.

[image credit: JJ Hall]