Former University of Colorado Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam committed suicide by shooting himself in the head after heavy drinking and marijuana use, according to the autopsy released Thursday.

The cause of Salaam’s death was a gunshot wound to the head, the Boulder County coroner’s office concluded. He was 42 years old.

Salaam’s body was found by a passerby outside his girlfriend’s car at Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder on the evening of Dec. 5. He was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, gray sweatpants and black sneakers, the report says.

The autopsy indicated Salaam had been drinking heavily and using marijuana before the suicide. A note was also found at the scene. The coroner’s office confirmed his identity with fingerprints.

Salaam had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.25, which is more than three times the legal driving limit of 0.08. He had 55 nanograms per milliliter of THC in his system as well, the autopsy says.

“The decedent reportedly has a history of depression; and recent life stressors,” the autopsy says.

Salaam was suffering several health issues including moderate coronary atherosclerosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and thoracic scoliosis, the report says. Dr. Dawn Homes, who performed the autopsy, also noted Salaam had an old bilateral rib fracture calluses.

Salaam’s tattoos were all itemized and included: “believer” on the back of his left wrist, “no limit” on the back of his right wrist and “Salaam” on his upper right arm. On his lower neck was the phrase, “SOUL OF RED AND BLACK FOLKS.”

He was carrying his U.S. Passport with him and $63 in cash. He weighed 245 pounds.

The coroner’s office asked his family whether they wanted the option of additional neuropathological analysis to determine whether he suffered from a common condition for athletes suffering from repeated head injuries called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) prior to the autopsy but they declined.

His brother, Jabali Alaji, told USA Today after Salaam’s death that he believed Salaam displayed “all the symptoms” of CTE, including depression and memory loss.

Deputy Boulder County coroner Dustin Bueno previously told The Daily Camera that CTE examinations are not done in routine autopsies. He said that brain matter would need to be sent to an outside lab for testing, but added that they would only do so with the family’s permission.

A “dry” autopsy was performed in observance of his family’s religious preference, according to the autopsy.

Salaam won the award given to college football’s best player as a junior and was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. As a junior, he rushed for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns as the Buffaloes finished 11-1.

The Buffaloes will honor Salaam in Thursday night’s Alamo Bowl with a decal displaying the initials “RS” above the number 19, which Salaam wore during his time at CU from 1992 to 1994. Salaam become just the fourth player in college football to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

CU coach Mike MacIntyre spoke of Salaam during a news conference this week promoting the bowl game, in which Colorado plays Oklahoma State in San Antonio.

“Our guys walk by his trophy every day,” MacIntyre said Wednesday. “There’s flowers around it now, and it’s something we notice every single day. … Every time I remember Rashaan, he always had a great smile. He was very, very humble. I really appreciate Rashaan and what he did for the program.”

Salaam joined the Buffs in 1992 out of La Jolla Country Day in San Diego, where he played eight-man football. He became a high school All-American and his successful recruitment was a huge coup for the Buffs, who were aiming to capitalize on the momentum of the national championship they won in 1990.