Two days before he took his own life, former NFL linebacker Junior Seau played in a charity golf tournament in Dana Point, Calif., and he seemed to be in great spirits that day, according to those who spent time with him.
"You'd think that a guy would show signs of being depressed," said Tim Brown, the former Oakland Raiders receiver and co-host of the tournament, according to the Los Angeles Times. "The guys who played with him in the group were devastated. They said that for five-and-a-half hours they laughed and joked and took pictures and did all this stuff, and how could this same guy turn around and do that? That's the thing that's mind-boggling to everybody."
Seau was found in his Oceanside, Calif., home Wednesday with a gunshot wound to the chest. His death has been ruled a suicide by the San Diego County medical examiner. The 20-year NFL veteran, who played for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, was 43.
Seau's death stunned his family and friends, such as Chargers team chaplain Shawn Mitchell, who hadn't seen signs that the former player was troubled enough to contemplate suicide.
"With all those years and us talking openly, I didn't find in the last several months that Junior was significantly different than at other times," Mitchell said.
At Monday's golf event, Seau was heard talking with pride about his four children and discussing the Chargers' recent draft picks.
"He would go up to everybody who worked there and say, 'Let's do a photo,' " said Mitchell Sacharoff, who shared a cart with him. "So rather than them having to ask him, he'd just say, 'Come on over here.' He was constantly in a great mood and taking care of everybody."
The Chargers announced Saturday that the team will host a free public memorial May 11 at Qualcomm Stadium.
