[Updated at 3:43 p.m. ET] Talking to reporters outside Seau's home, a distraught Luisa Mauga Seau, the ex-player's mother, repeatedly thanked those who had shown love to her son.
"I pray to God, take me! Leave my son! But it's too late," she said in tears as those nearby tried to console her.
[Updated at 3:34 p.m. ET] The Oceanside, California, police chief says Junior Seau's death is being investigated as a suicide.
Authorities received a call from a woman who said she was his girlfriend. She said she found the former Pro Bowler unconscious with a gunshot wound to his chest Wednesday morning, Oceanside Police Chief Frank McCoy said in a news conference.
Police officers and firefighters went to the house and found him in one of the bedrooms. They tried to revive him, to no avail, McCoy said, adding that a handgun was found near Seau's body.
[Posted at 3:18 p.m. ET] The San Diego Chargers issued a statement on their website regarding "the passing" of their former Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau, who reportedly killed himself in his Oceanside, California, home Wednesday.
"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," the statement said.
After TMZ and other media outlets reported a police presence at his home early Wednesday, the Chargers tweeted that they had no information on the matter. Minutes later, they announced that a conference call with Coach Norv Turner had been canceled before issuing the statement on Seau's passing.
"The outpouring of emotion is no surprise," the team tweeted shortly after 3 p.m. ET.
Seau played 20 seasons in the NFL, 13 of which came with the Chargers. He played his last seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.
Read CNN's full coverage of Junior Seau's apparent suicide
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A shocking loss for the fans of the NFL, as well as the Chargers. His family is in our thoughts and I hope they know how much he meant to us all. Rest well, man. You were one of the greats.
Let's hope the family allows his brain to be analyzed to help future pro-football players abt the great risk they run by playing the game.
Yes. Good point. This is extremely sad. Too young; too soon. Makes you wonder about head impacts and the potential side affects of enhancement supplements......
That's exactly what I was thinking. He was probably depressed and I'm sure a study of his brain could help others.
Nice of CNN to interrupt this for Newt's farewell speech.
Yeah, it kind of is.
My thoughts are with his family but NOT him...the coward. Great job there, Junior, leaving your family behind to pick up the pieces of their now shattered lives due to your selfish act.
Roger, Although I often see things the way you're suggesting, there is growing evidence that long term brain trauma recieved by football players can lead to numerous mental health issues not limited to depression and suicidal thoughts. Let's cut some slack for by all accounts a really great football player until we know all the facts.
You don't have False News channel at home?
Great job there Roger, blaming his suicide on selfishness instead of mental instability without knowing the facts.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Roger: Another not very bright, nay; a moron who knows nothing about mental illness. Your comment says volumes regarding your intelligence. Lets hope you never suffer debilitating depression and if you do, be sure and get back to us on cowardice.
How do you know it was intentional? Go get some sleep bro
Many if not all people who commit or attempt suicide have psychological problems, thus causing them to act in this manner. That makes them ill, not cowards. A good example of a coward would be someone who voices their opinion about a person only after they are dead.
You should really educate yourself on the effects of traumatic brain injury, your reply indicates how uneducated you are when it comes to the subject.
While suicide is a selfish act, it is also an act of extreme desperation. People commit such acts because they feel that they have absolutely no other options – real or imagined, rich or not, famous or not. A bit of compassion is in order.
You are an Idiot Roger. The guy (Seau) is battling depression which is also an illness affecting thousands of people in this country. No reason to beat the dead horse just offer your condolences or shut up and go hang yourself. Ass-Hole!
shocked. rip
You think that Junior say owww when he pulled the trigger? Too soon?
Sad, sad, sad. I go back to USC with junior. Rest in peace.
Seriouly! Junior Seau is still a human being have some respect for the man. Regardless of what brought this on His mother lost her son.
WOW !! Jr. was also loved as a PATRIOT ! what a great guy RIP Jr.
The people talking about brain damage strike me as pretty uninformed about football. Middle Linebacker is one of the least head injury-prone positions in the game.
Least prone doesn't mean it doesn't happen...
is that serious? is this bill romanowski writing this?
You said it yourself. It's one of the least affected positions, not a position that was totally free of any head injuries. You strike me as someone pretty uninformed about head injuries.
they are men who never told anyone about the head problems DUH!
The man still played pro football for 20 years! Sure they do not have massive head trauma on the field they are still hitting their head pretty frequently.When the average length of an NFL career is only about 4 years, and JR played for 5 times that. His body and brain were taking a large amount of damage that were not outwardly visible.
This is so sad. Junior was a great Charger anda great person. The community in San Diego loved him so much. Rest in peace Junior, God bless your family through this time of sorrow.
I have no sympathy for this inconsiderate coward. Instead of fighting, he now leaves children who will be scarred because of his selfish action. THE AUTUMN WIND IS A RAIDUH!!!!
Pete: Just another idiot.
Typical Raider fan. Hey IDIOT, why not just say nothing at all, you will seem a whole lot more intelligent.
Wow. How sad. My son used to love watching J. Seau play football. That is a huge loss for the family and for the Chargers.
A great football player in his time that leaves behind great memories.
Can't we take a break from jumping to unsubstantiated conclusions and mourn the passing of a fine athlete? Very sad day for football.