Seau Reportedly Dead in Shooting After Suicide Call
911 call was made to police at 10 a.m. PT, dispatcher says
BREAKING NEWSNBCSports.com news servicesupdated 2:58 p.m. ET May 2, 2012Former NFL great Junior Seau reportedly died in a shooting after reports of a possible suicide at his home, according to NBC San Diego and the North County Times.
Oceanside, Calif., mayor Jim Wood told the Times that he learned of the death from police chief Frank McCoy. Wood said he was told Seau, 43, died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he was notified of the death and is on his way to be with family members.
“Junior was an icon not only in San Diego but throughout the nation. Of course this will affect a lot of people, not in the least the children and kids who look up to him,” Mitchell said.
“He had a great impact on many lives. He’s changed my life in many ways, I’m sure.” A housekeeper found Seau, according to the Times. A 911 call reporting a possible suicide was made to police at 10 a.m., a dispatcher said.
Seau played for the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots, retiring in 2009. He was named to the Pro Bowl 12 times and made the league's list of All-Pro starts for 10 years.
The official Chargers Twitter account sent this post: "We don’t have any information right now on the Junior Seau situation. We pray he's OK."
In October 2010, Seau sustained injuries when his SUV crashed at the bottom of a Carlsbad cliff.
Oceanside police arrested Seau on a felony domestic violence charge.
Then, hours after his release from custody, Seau was found behind the wheel of an SUV that had crashed over a cliff onto the beach below.
