She said Adams had a severe case of it. Neighbors described the family as having a strong Christian background, and the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church inRock Hill confirmed the family attended services. Tolson said there was no indication the gunman, Phillip Adams, had a doctor-patient relationship with Robert Lesslie. Example video title will go here for this video. He was struggling with his mental health., The rally against gun violence in Rock Hill will focus in part on the mental health aspect in recent shootings in the city, said Dr. Norma Gray, president of the NAACP chapter in Rock Hill. . Updated December 14, 2021 10:56 AM. 2:37 a.m., April 8: Adams is confirmed dead inside his home. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot and killed at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. He just keeps saying, I've been shot, I've been shot. Police say Adams shot and killed Robert Lesslie, 70, his wife Barbara Lesslie, 69, and two of their grandchildren, Adah, 9, and Noah, 5, as well as two HVAC workers, James Lewis, 38, and Robert Shook, 38 on April 7 in Rock Hill. Warrants reveal new findings in Rock Hill shooting investigation | wcnc.com He started Riverview Medical Center in Rock Hill and it's been a staple in Rock Hill for years.". Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team atWake Up Charlotte. "I can say he's a good kid, he was a good kid, and I think the football messed him up," Alonzo Adamstold WCNC-TV. Im not trying to sensationalize anything, but there are a lot of guys out there, he said. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. The physician also penned a number of collections of what he termed inspiring true stories from his work. "I have come to understand that humility may be the greatest virtue. I think he got upset about that and thats kind of where it started, with him kind of feeling like the whole world was against him.. Moments later, a vehicle pulled into their driveway and law enforcement quickly surrounded the property. At Thursdays news conference, Tolson played audio of two 911 calls, the first from an HVAC company that employed Lewis and Shook. ROCK HILL, S.C. Phillip Adams, a former NFL player accused of killing six people in a mass shooting in Rock Hill before taking his own life in early April, showed signs of severe brain damage caused by CTE, a researcher from Boston University said Tuesday. San Francisco 49ers cornerback Phillip Adams (35) sits on the sideline during the first quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco October 17, 2010. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson reads a statement from the victims' families during a press conference on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in York, S.C., where he addressed the mass shooting by former NFL football player Phillip Adams. These men embody the values we strive to achieve at GSM and are family focused, up-beat, and wonderful team members who cared about all the people they encountered," the Longs said. Rarely a starter, the gunman also was with New England, Seattle, Oakland and the New York Jets, finishing his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. Many of the individuals who were diagnosed with CTE in life they had what we call emotional lability, which is basically like a short fuse or flying off the handle quickly," said Dr. Dan Daneshvar with Harvard Medical Schoo, "These were often significant personality changes from what the individual and their loved ones previously recorded.. Rock Hill, the location of the shooting, pictured in 2018, https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/crime/article250506054.html, https://apnews.com/article/phillip-adams-kills-5-then-himself-south-carolina-aaf71f2618f139ab3781592634c8e37c, https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?title=Q106421390&oldid=1699415425, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. This March 12, 2009, file photo shows Dr. Robert Lesslie in Rock Hill, South Carolina. A copy of Adams disability benefits file will show if he ever applied and, if he did, what the status was, according to Scott. Another employee,Robert Shook, was found injured. "One is unresponsive, another is talking slurred, and he can't talk. One of the men, the caller said, had called him screaming and saying that he had been shot, and that his coworker was shot and unresponsive.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Two police cars sat parked outside the Robinson Funeral Home as Brown delivered the eulogy. Thursday marks a year since police say former NFL player Phillip Adams killed six people at a home on Marshall Road in Rock Hill before taking his own life. FORECAST: Highs again below average today, Charlotte leaders propose budget for 2024, At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois. The new details highlight how Adams attacked, what he was wearing, and how deputies knew where to start looking. But thats a slippery slope. But before the event, Kirk said, a representative for the Lesslie family told him he no longer would be needed at the event. SC mass shooting: 5 killed, NFL Phillip Adams kills himself - The State During a news briefing on Thursday, April 8, the York County Sheriff's Office provided a timeline of eventsfrom Wednesday afternoon through early the next morning. Jeff is the son of Robert and Barbara Lesslie. Police said the suspect, Phillip Adams, was found dead at a nearby house. Former NFL player kills 6 people, then himself, in South Carolina They say the truth will set you free. He wrote a weekly medical column for The Charlotte Observer and became a prolific author, writing several volumes with advice on how to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and lose weight. James Lewis, who was killed at the shooting at the Lesslie home in South Carolina, is shown in an undated family photo. He treated patients at Riverview Family Medicine & Urgent Care. Thursday's media briefing included a breakdown of the York County Sheriff's Office response to the tragedy, FORECAST: Highs again below average today, Charlotte leaders propose budget for 2024, At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, tragic April 7 shooting that claimed six lives, York County Sheriff's Office provided a timeline of events, North Carolina HVAC technicians James Lewis, rumors about what could have lead to the shooting, 'It's been a tough day' | Friends, Rock Hill community honor family killed in mass shooting, Father of York County shooting suspect says son killed 6 others, then himself, Shooting suspect Phillip Adams played 6 NFL seasons. They don't have the staff to do it, he said. He had several documented injuries in his career. Whether he suffered long-lasting concussion-related injuries wasnt immediately clear. Example video title will go here for this video. 6 [nb 1] Injured. What Led Phillip Adams, Former N.F.L. Player, to a Shooting Spree However, Tolson would not confirm that Adams had been the doctors patient. Then on Wednesday, for reasons no one yet knows for sure, Phillip Adams, a former N.F.L. There also are neurocognitive benefits, worth approximately $36,000 to $60,000 a year, and total and permanent disability benefits worth approximately $60,000 to $265,000. We are pleased to have a better understanding of the mental turmoil that Phillip was dealing with during the last moments of his life. Casterline said he spoke regularly with Adams father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning. [6] Adams later killed himself before he could be arrested.[1][7]. And towardthe end he felt like they were trying to basically stiff him on money," Lauren Adams said. All were dead,Tolson said. Please enter valid email address to continue. In the minutes, days, and months since, our family has remained fixed on the eternal hope we have in Christ. (Video: Reuters) Comment. "I also want to send my sincere condolences to the family of James Lewis. SC Coroner: 6th Rock Hill mass shooting victim Shook dies | Charlotte ROCK HILL, S.C. New warrants released Friday reveal what York County deputies found as they investigated the deadly shooting in Rock Hill earlier in April . The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. on Marshall Road. ABC News' Rachel Katz, Alexandra Faul, Meredith Deliso and Alondra Valle contributed to this report. We definitely did notice signs of mental illness that was extremely concerning, that was not like we had ever seen. "It doesn't happen here," said Trent Faris, a York County Sheriff's Office spokesman. I can say hes a good kid, Alonzo Adams told WCNC-TV. ", Joel and Steven Long, co-owners of GSM Services, said in a statement, "Our team at GSM Services is heart broken. Lewis and the surviving victim -- who was in critical condition following the shooting -- were air conditioning techs with the company GSM Services and were found shot beside their work vans, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolsonsaid. A supplementary report says the investigation led them to determine Adams was the suspect, and they moved to his home down the road. I think theres been a bad shooting, a different man said in a second 911 call, saying he was outside cutting his grass and heard about 20 shots fired at the Lesslie home before seeing someone leave the house. I cant fathom it. Charlotte leaders propose budget for 2024, Committee recommends certain projects over others for sustainability of Charlotte, At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, Deputies provide timeline of events for Rock Hill shooting, Shooting suspect Phillip Adams played 6 NFL seasons. "We have contacted Boston University and they will be working with us to conduct a brain study to identify if Mr. Adams had CTE," the office said in a statement Friday evening, noting that routine forensic autopsies do not identify the disease. Rock Hill | AP News A York County sheriff's deputy is parked outside a residence where multiple people, including a prominent doctor, were fatally shot a day earlier, April 8, 2021, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. ROCK HILL, S.C. Authorities on Friday are working to determine a possible motive after Wednesday's shooting spree when police say former NFL player Phillip Adams gunned down five people . "To that end, our hearts are bent towardforgiveness and peace. He said they went to his parents' home, evacuated them and then tried to talk the gunman out of the house. I can say hes a good kid he was a good kid, and I think the football messed him up, Alonzo Adams told WCNC-TV. Seeing Philip shoot two kids, its not him. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The first took place in January 1961, when nine Black college students were arrested and sentenced to hard labor for sitting at a whites-only lunch counter. Updated: 10:41 PM EST December 14, 2021 ROCK HILL, S.C . In 2017, Scott said, he communicated with Adams five or six times in an attempt to help him get benefits. She said they repeatedly asked Adams to come outand promised to get his disabled mother out safely. According to the latest report published online, the four members of the Lesslie family were in a workout room when gunfire rang out from outside the surrounding woods. In the York County Sheriff's Office jurisdiction, which includes the neighborhood where the Adams lived and the shootings took place, there were seven shooting deaths in 2020 and there already have been seven shooting deaths in 2021, according to the sheriff's office. "Dr. Lesslie was a pillar in this community with what he's been able to give back," he said. Less than five months into 2021, there have been six homicides and five of them were shooting deaths, according to Chavis, who said the Adams shootings are not included in that total because they took place outside the incorporated city limits of Rock Hill. But detectives found nine guns at the home of Adams parents where Adams killed himself, according to records released by the York County Sheriffs Office. / CBS/AP. In the days after his death, it turned into a memorial with people leaving flowers and notes in honor of a doctor who was well known and well-loved. We found that playing additional years of football was associated with a higher risk of an individual getting CTE, to the tune of every additional year of football, regardless of level of play, and regardless of position play, in that study, we found was associated with a 30% increased risk of CTE," said Daneshvar. "Dr. Lesslie has been one of those people that everybody knows. York . "We did not hear any gunshots," Tolson said. Allison Hope, who lives across from Adams parents home, about a mile from the Lesslies, said police allowed her to return home around 9 p.m. Wednesday. Second suspect arrested for murder in deadly Rock Hill shooting All of us who knew Philip are shaking our heads. The NFL released a statement Wednesday in regard to the report: "We appreciate the work done by Dr. McKee and her colleagues for the value it adds in the ongoing quest for a better understanding of CTE. RELATED: Deputies provide timeline of events for Rock Hill shooting. Paul Scott, who worked for the NFL benefit plan for 13 years and now helps former players apply for benefits, said hes seen the frustration. However, a donation by his family could lead to future medical advances. Adams was from Rock Hill. It should no longer be swept under the rug, Phyllis Adams said. Adams, 32, played in 78 NFL games over six seasons for six teams. He played in the NFL six years, most recently with the Atlanta Falcons, until the 2015 season. He never played for the 49ers again, getting released just before the 2011 season began and signing with New England. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. RELATED: Shooting suspect Phillip Adams played 6 NFL seasons. Youre crazy. And theyll come take away your guns.. Contributing: Dustin Wyatt,The Spartanburg Herald-Journal;The Associated Press. In the investigation of the Adams killings, authorities have not said how the guns were purchased and who owned them. One of two 9-1-1 dispatch calls released by the office indicate someone from Lewis' employer GSM Services in Gastonia, North Carolina placed the call. Phillip Adams. Please call 911the man told a 911 operator. Faris said Lesslie was very well known in the Rock Hill community. ", RELATED: Deputies provide timeline of events for Rock Hill shooting. Tolson said evidence at the scene led authorities to Adams as a suspect. Adams killed himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting to death six people April 7 less than a mile away from his house. "He didn't drink not one bit of alcohol," Smith said. Nell . Robert and Barbara Lesslie in a photo posted to Robert Lesslie's website. A sixth person was also shot and survived, officials said. This is so unlike him. It raised $400,000, which was split evenly between the families. The sixth victim of a shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina, earlier this week has died, the York County coroner announced Saturday. We need to have an awakening in our city to let the people know that this is not the direction we want to let our city to go in.". Asked whether Adams' autopsy would include an examination of his brain or whether he suffered fromChronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Wendy Bailey, a case manager and evidence technician for the York County coroner's office, told USA TODAY: "Normal forensic autopsies do not identify CTE injuries, however we are researching options to include this study.". The suspect is former NFL player Phillip Adams. Phillip Adams, a former player, was . Who is Phillip Adams? Friends speak on former NFL player | Charlotte "It is in fact, not what I would consider unusual in this disease.". Some teams wrote him off and he had that stigma of a guy who was hurt, Casterline said. The 38-year-old dedicated his life to his parents, his children, and the woman he planned to marry. ROCK HILL, S.C.Authorities searched for clues Thursday in the nation's latest shooting spree after police say a former NFL player gunned down five people, including a beloved doctor and his two young grandchildren, before killing himself in a quiet neighborhood. But I did not teach my children to shoot guns, he said. Both children attended the First ARP Church in Rock Hill along with their parents and grandparents. 2021, 10:55 AM. Its an understatement to say that theres not a day that goes by that I dont think about him," Lewis said. Deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday to the Lesslies' home, which is not visible from the road. NFL Draft Hub: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis. Eventually, they found him dead in a bedroom, Tolson said. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lesslie worked for decades as an emergency room doctor, board-certified in both emergency medicine and occupational medicine and serving as emergency department medical director for nearly 15 years at Rock Hill General Hospital, according to his website. It's a few houses down from the Lesslies' home, which sits on a heavily wooded property surrounded by a black fence. Adams mother said she wants the public to know about that, along with the danger of concussions. Scott said Adams told him that he was having trouble obtainingmedical records from some of the six teams he played for during his six-year career. I can't put it all together and I'm trying to, and I witnessed it," Hope said. Marshals, Homeland Security and the Kansas State Police. Wisher, the gun store owner in Rock Hill, said families must accept some responsibility for keeping guns out of the hands of relatives with mental health problems especially if the mental health issues are not readily visible. Barbara and Robert Lesslie sang in the choir. The gunman, identified as a former NFL player, died of what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. Adams brain will be tested for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),whichis believed to cause mood swings and changes in temperament. Ex-NFL player who killed 6 in Rock Hill had 'severe' CTE, doctor says What matters most is what happens next,"he cried. ROCK HILL, S.C. Robert Shook, the sixth victim in the deadly shooting at the Rock Hill home of a prominent ER doctor, has died due to his injuries . First published on April 8, 2021 / 4:40 AM. By Andrew Dys and. He said the process can require players to travel out of state to see doctors and the benefit rules change often. A motive has not been determined, Tolson said. During the briefing, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson urged patience and saidrumors about what could have lead to the shooting are unfounded. Despite being shot several times Wednesday, Robert Shook was able to call his supervisor at GSM Services, who then made the first 911 call related to the shooting. Case studies such as those compiled in this updated paper are important to further advancing the science and progress related to head trauma. Jeff Lesslie, who lost his parents and his two children, said this in a statement shared with WCNC Charlotte: "It has been a year since our community came face to face with the unbelievable. Deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday to the Lesslies home, and evacuated the neighbors as they searched for hours for a suspect. Adams father, Alonzo, said guns are part of the familys culture. . Updated: Mar 3, 2021 / 12:10 PM EST. The sheriff said authorities don't have any indication the weapons were obtained illegally. A safety and special teams player from South Carolina State, he joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick. Robert Lesslie and his wife had four children and five grandchildren,his website biography said. "Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it's an international embarrassment," Mr. Biden said. Hollywood writers go on strike over fair pay in streaming era, Missing teens likely among 7 people found dead in Oklahoma, authorities say, Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at 84, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids, American climber dies on Mount Everest, expedition organizer says, Bob Lee died from three stab wounds, medical examiner says, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes massive pile-up on Illinois highway, Ex-NFL player kills 5 people, then himself, in South Carolina. "He was part of my family. On the same day Adams fatally shot his victims, the South Carolina House passed a measure that would allow handguns to be openly carried without a permit. "Seeing Phillip shoot two kids, it's not him. Adams spent six seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons, before his career ended in 2015. Warrants show ex-NFL player Adams mass shooting Rock Hill SC | Rock ", The family said, "If you would like to do something for the family, Adah and Noah would want you to stock the free pantries and libraries in your community. 0:00. All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. Its hard to say.". mass-shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina. 9 mm handgun [2] Deaths. "His 20-year career put him at high risk for development of CTE," McKee, who conducted the study on Adams' brain, said. April 9, 2021, 6:13 PM. ", "Both men involved in this incident are long-standing, beloved members of our family at GSM. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "We are working hard to provide some answers.". The York County Coroners Office said Adams was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a nearby home on the same road as the Lesslies, following a standoff. Its devastating for the victims and the families.". Updated April 16, 2021 4:55 PM. Right now, the disease can only be diagnosed after death, when doctors use a sample of brain tissue to study the brain. "Theres really not an hour that goes by.". [4], On April 8, 2021, the York County Sheriff's Office said in a press conference that the suspect was Adams. "It's one of those strange things that a lot of people are going to have a hard time understanding.". Authorities: NFL player Phillip Adams killed 5, then himself ROCK HILL, S.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) A second man wanted for murder in connection to a February homicide in Rock Hill was arrested in Kansas Tuesday, according to the Rock Hill Police Department. 6 dead, shot by former NFL player Phillip Adams, South Carolina On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Shook also told deputies there were more victims in the residence, and they found the four Lesslie family members dead in the workout room inside. The Lesslie family also established a little library and a food pantry outside of the church named after 9-year-old Adah and 5-year-old Noah. Its like a revival and we need to revive our city, said Nikita Jackson, a Rock Hill councilwoman whonoted the event was in the works before the Adamskillings. He also wrote a book, "Angels in the ER," collecting what he termed "inspiring true stories" from his time in the emergency department. 0:59. Phillip Adams, a former National Football League player, was named as the perpetrator. He and his wife had four children and nine grandchildren, and were actively involved with their church, as well as with Camp Joy, which works with children with disabilities and where Lesslie served as camp physician for a week each summer. Wake Forest School of Medicine studying concussions in young athletes, Former college classmate remembers Rock Hill shooting victims, 'A shining light to so many' | Prayer vigil held for Rock Hill shooting victims, Lesslie family honors late son's birthday with heartwarming gestures. Updated: 5:05 PM EDT April 23, 2021. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. That's what I really think we need to address: all the people who have fallen through the cracks and are in desperate need of help," McKee said. Among the victims were a 9-year-old girl and her 5-year-old brother, and Ramseur said she feared retaliation during the funeral in part because Adams is Black and all of the victims were white. Phillip Adams shot 6 people on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 killing Dr. Robert Lesslie, his wife, two grand children and a Gaston HVAC worker. Related stories from Charlotte Observer. I can't fathom it. He was a good father," Casterline said. Over the past two years, Adams behavior shifted dramatically, said his sister, LaurenAdams. James Lewis, 38, was found dead outside. Adams was arrested in 2016 in North Carolina and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor. Timeline of events in tragic Rock Hill shooting | wcnc.com Answers sought on guns, race, NFL following Phillip Adams shooting Following the shootings, Gast obtained special permission to have Phillips' brain tissue sent in for CTE tests. Phillip Adams shot to death six people in Rock Hill, South Carolina on April 7, . On Thursday, Tolson said the family had asked that any memorials be made to the camp. "It's a progressive disease that worsens with age. Former Cowboys cornerback Kevin Smith, who trained the gunman leading up to the 2010 draft and after he entered the league, said he was a hard worker. Questions are still swirling about how this shooting happened, mainly on what led Adams to do this. Sixty years ago, the city drew national attention for two racist incidents. Rock Hill shooting: Robert Shook dies | wcnc.com In a statement Friday afternoon, the company said they feeling "guarded" about Shook's fluctuating condition. He was drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round out of South Carolina State in 2010 and played as a reserve defensive back for five teams in six years from 2010 to 2015. She said his "mental health degraded fast and terribly bad" and described how normal conversations would quickly turn hostile. What happens next for those trying to curb gun violence as the mass killings continue? This is something I cant grasp yet. DNA solves "decades-old mystery" after woman's remains found in 1995, Arkansas woman indicted for selling stolen body parts to Pennsylvania man. A representative for Adams' family said he was "desperately seeking help" from the NFL but was denied all of his claims because he had trouble remembering things and struggled to complete simple tasks, such as traveling to visit doctors and undergo extensive testing. Updated: 12:16 AM EDT April 11, 2021. I was going to find him a job, but he wouldn't leave South Carolina because he had a son. The losseswe are suffering cannot be uttered at this time. Tobie Nell Perkins. Contact Indira Eskieva atieskieva@wcnc.comand follow her onFacebook,TwitterandInstagram. ROCK HILL, S.C. - Authorities searched for clues Thursday in the nation's latest shooting spree after police say a former NFL player gunned down five people, including a beloved doctor and . This page is not available in other languages. Robert Shook, an air conditioning technician, initially . ROCK HILL, S.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) . Mr Adams says he believes his son's football career may be at the root of whatever caused him to snap and carry out the shooting.