Photo of Smiling Junior Seau Taken Two Days before Death

*Junior Seau was smiling and appeared to be happy at a charity event Monday, possibly his last public appearances before his death Wednesday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

People.com has posted the photo from the 18th Annual 911 for Kids Celebrity ProAm Classic, held at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, Calif. It shows Seau in a black polo shirt and cap, smiling and apparently relaxed with Karma Tequila co-founder Gary Eisenberger and an unidentified woman.

Event reps say the NFL star was jovial and joked around with other guests as he sipped tequila.

Seau, 43, was deeply involved in charity work, having donated nearly $4 million for services and scholarships to children and young adults. 911 for Kids is an organization dedicated to teaching children about the seriousness of calling 911 and how to properly communicate with emergency operators.

As his friends and family grieve his death, police are investigating it as a suicide.

Junior Seau's mother Luisa Seau

“Monday, Tuesday [he was] talking to me, joking. Junior, why you never tell me?” the legendary NFL linebacker’s mother, Luisa Seau, sobbed in front of her son’s Oceanside, Calif., home on Wednesday – hours after he put a gun to his chest and pulled the trigger.

“I don’t understand, I don’t understand,” Luisa cried. “I prayed to God, ‘Take me. Take me, and leave my son.’ But it’s too late. Too late.”

Tags: celebrity pro am classic, death, junior seau, suicide, tequila

4 thoughts on “Photo of Smiling Junior Seau Taken Two Days before Death”

butterpecanrican

May 3, 2012 at 2:33 pm

We never know the demons someone wrestles with in private. My heart goes out to his family, especially his mother. She ripped the heart out if my chest with her grief.

Stephanie

May 3, 2012 at 2:34 pm

Man, this is a very sad day for San Diego. This guy gave so much to the community and did so much for San Diego. I think he’s always had some deep rooted issues. I saw him going completely off on his girlfriend and then out of no where, he kicked a big ass dent in her car…he was cussing and going ballistic. His family was very, very close and not taking this senseless tragedy well at all…

Diva007

May 3, 2012 at 7:09 pm

Really tragic. My heart goes out to his mom and his children.

1ladynwaiting

May 3, 2012 at 7:46 pm

This is such a tragedy on many levels. You read the accounts of people who played football with him ,knew him up close and personal, as a “great guy”;always smiling and willing to help. Then you read the converse;explosive outburts, with females, possibly driving off of a cliff,intentionally, and it makes you wonder what happened. Was he also a victim of traumatic encephalopathy, from repeated blows to the head?! When someone is said to have a”larger than life persona”, or they are “very passionate”, sometimes these passions can drive them to the brink… and beyond. As a mother, it was painful to see his mother grieving, and wanting to take his place. Whatever happened, we can only hope that this family will in time, come to grips with their grief, and get closure. Mr. Seau was a joy to watch, and he entertained us through the years like few others have ever done. Whatever demons drove him to take his life, hopefully his soul will rest in peace!