OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Former University of Southern California and San Diego Chargers football star Junior Seau was found dead Wednesday by his girlfriend in the bedroom of his beachside home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Few details were immediately available. TV footage showed police swarming the Oceanside home in north San Diego County and people comforting each other.

Oceanside police didn’t have any immediate comment about what was happening at Seau’s home but were expected to provide details soon.

The San Diego Chargers sent out a message on Twitter that said: “Due to the current reports about Junior Seau, today’s season ticket-holder conference call with Head Coach Norv Turner has been canceled.”

In 2010, Seau was involved in a crash near his home when the sport-utility vehicle he was driving went over a beachside cliff. The accident occurred after he was arrested in Oceanside on suspicion of domestic violence.

Seau, an All-American at USC and 12-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker, played 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers and three seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He left the game briefly but then signed and played with the New England Patriots before calling it quits for good in 2010.

“He was a local hero — he certainly gave back to the community and to the youth through his Junior Seau Foundation,” Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood told the North County Times newspaper. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”