Former NFL player Junior Seau found dead at Calif. home in apparent suicide

OCEANSIDE, Calif. - Junior Seau's mother, Luisa, spoke at a press conference after the former San Diego Chargers star was found dead Wednesday morning in his Oceanside, Calif. home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Seau's emotional mother spoke at a press conference about her son's death saying she didn't have an idea that this would happen. Luisa Seau sobbed and begged God, "Take me! Take me!" She said she didn't know who to blame or what she would do without her son.

Oceanside police chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend found him in a bedroom unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest. Seau could not be revived.

A handgun was found near his body. McCoy confirmed that Seau's death is being investigated as a suicide.

The Oceanside Police Department responded to Seau's home in the 600 block of South The Strand shortly after 10 a.m. after a 911 call came from the home, according to U-T San Diego.

Three members of the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office arrived at the house shortly before noon. Close friends and family members have been gathering at the home since police began their investigation. Pastor Miles McPherson of The Rock Church is now at the home to be with Seau's family.

Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell told ABC News that Seau's death was in fact a suicide. The Chargers released the following statement regarding the situation:

"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 star linebacker was drafted fifth overall in 1990 by the Chargers. He played college football at the University of Southern California. He was a 10-time All-Pro and a 12-time Pro Bowl selection.

Seau also played for the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. Seau is the ninth member of the 1994 Chargers Super Bowl team that died young.

Seau's personal problems became very public in October 2010 after he drove his SUV off a cliff hours after an arrest on a domestic violence charge. Afterward, Seau claimed he didn't intentionally drive off the cliff but fell asleep at the wheel.