Former football star Junior Seau found dead in apparent suicide; left no note, police say

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Police say no suicide note was left behind by football star Junior Seau, who was found dead Wednesday in his Oceanside home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest.
Although few details were available, police confirmed no suicide note was left behind, no foul play was suspected and his girlfriend discovered his body in bed Wednesday morning when she returned from the gym.
Later in the day, as police walked in and out of Seau’s beachfront home, his family members could be seen huddling in the garage, weeping. Earlier, his mother appeared distraught.
“I don’t understand, I don’t understand,” Luisa Seau cried as she spoke to reporters and others gathered outside the home.
She said she was in church when she heard her son was dead. “I pray to God, ‘Take me, take me, leave my son.’ But it’s too late.”
Neighbor Brian Ballis, 50, of Oceanside, said he would often see Seau, 43, on the balcony, or in the ocean paddleboarding or surfing. Two days ago, Ballis saw him playing the ukulele on his balcony, describing the tune as “Hawaiian-style music.”
“He was smiling and happy,” Ballis said, “and looking at the sky and looking at the waves.”
Seau was a familiar presence in the Oceanside neighbor and could be seen running up and down the oceanfront street with his dog.
Kevin Hardyway, 43, of Oceanside, a construction worker, has known Seau since middle school. They met in the seventh grade and played football and basketball together at Jefferson Middle School and Oceanside High School.
He said he was originally drawn to Seau, whom he referred to affectionately as Junebug, because they shared a competitive spirit.
“He was a good guy always trying to win,” Hardyway said.
Over the years, Hardyway and Seau became more distant, but whenever Seau was in town, they would try to catch up and talk about their children and sports.
“Junior’s always been in good spirits,” he said. “If something is bothering him, you won’t know.”
In 2010, Seau was involved in a crash near his home when the sport-utility vehicle he was driving went over a beachside cliff. The accident occurred after he was arrested in Oceanside on suspicion of domestic violence.
After Seau’s death was announced by police Wednesday, the San Diego Chargers urged fans to pray.
“Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now,” the team said in a statement. “We ask everyone to stop what they’re doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family…. The outpouring of emotion is no surprise.”
Former USC football star Reggie Bush said on Twitter: “Damn this one hurts San Diego! One of the greatest to come from the city.”
At USC, Seau’s alma mater, Athletic Director Pat Haden called Seau “one of the greatest legends in USC football history. He will always be remembered by USC as the original No. 55.”
“He was one of the greatest Trojans of all time,” USC football Coach Lane Kiffin said in a statement.
Seau, an All-American at USC and 12-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker, played 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers and three seasons with the Dolphins. He left the game briefly but then signed and played with the New England Patriots before calling it quits for good in 2010.