Adams' sister,Lauren Adams, told USA TODAY in an interview that her brother'sbehavior shifted abruptly a couple of years ago and he exhibited mental health issues. 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. Contributing: Dustin Wyatt,The Spartanburg Herald-Journal;The Associated Press. "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. Phillip Adams, a former National Football League player, was named as the suspect. 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. He started Riverview Medical Center in Rock Hill and it's been a staple in Rock Hill for years.". Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene. Updated: Mar 3, 2021 / 12:10 PM EST. I loved him. Example video title will go here for this video. Tolson said evidence left at the scene of the shooting led them to the gunman. This is so unlike him. I cant put it all together and Im trying to, Hope said. Casterline said he spoke regularly with Adams father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning. Adams was from Rock Hill. Deputies say this retelling of events was relayed to them by Shook as he lay injured outside. "He didn't talk much and he didn't bother nobody.". I was going to find him a job, but he wouldn't leave South Carolina because he had a son. Updated: 12:16 AM EDT April 11, 2021. She said they spent hours negotiating with Phillip Adams, using a loudspeaker and sending in a robot to scan the house. She said Adams had a severe case of it. Updated December 14, 2021 10:56 AM. Whether the gunman suffered long-lasting injuries from his concussions as a player wasn't immediately clear. He had to not be in his right mind, obviously, Casterline said, adding that Adams struggled away from the game. He vacated an apartment there before he returned to his parents home in recent weeks, and detectives foundfirearms and a gun safe left behind at the residence, according to the search warrant. I know without a doubt that life is fragile, Lesslie wrote in one of those books, Angels in the ER., I am convinced we need to take the time to say the things we deeply feel to the people we deeply care about., A statement from the Lesslie family said they were in the midst of the unimaginable but felt assured by faith that their hearts are bent toward forgiveness and peace.. 4:44 p.m.: The first sign anything was wrong was with a call for service from Marshal Road, where the shooting unfolded at the Lesslie family's property. 0:59. April 9, 2021, 6:13 PM. As CS Lewis has said, 'come further up, come further in. Phillip Adams, a former player, was . Dr. Robert Lesslie was a prominent doctor in Rock Hill. In the minutes, days, and months since, our family has remained fixed on the eternal hope we have in Christ. She said they spent hours negotiating with the gunman, using a loudspeaker and sending in a robot to scan the house. 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. there were seven shooting deaths in 2020 and there already have been seven shooting deaths in 2021, . If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. 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Deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday to the Lesslies' home, which is not visible from the road. [6] Adams later killed himself before he could be arrested.[1][7]. Because somebody may not like somebody and say, You know what, I dont think you should own a gun. A 911 caller reported finding a man on the ground early Tuesday on a street in Rock Hill. Following the shootings, Gast obtained special permission to have Phillips' brain tissue sent in for CTE tests. ", 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. Eventually, they found him dead of a gunshot wound to the head. In Washington, President Biden mentioned the shooting as he unveiled his first attempts to curb gun violence during a White House ceremony. Adams would not have been eligible for testing as part ofa broad settlementbetween the NFL and its former players over such injuries, because he hadnt retired by 2014. A second employee wasn't moving, the man told 911 operators in a call played by authorities during a news conference. What happens next for in acommunity that has struggled with race relations? RELATED: Deputies provide timeline of events for Rock Hill shooting. All were dead,Tolson said. Both worked for GSM Services in York County. But before the event, Kirk said, a representative for the Lesslie family told him he no longer would be needed at the event. Former professional football player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people in Rock Hill, S.C., police said on April 8. "It doesn't happen here," said Trent Faris, a York County Sheriff's Office spokesman. 0:00. By Stephanie Bunao. ", RELATED: Deputies provide timeline of events for Rock Hill shooting. 6 [nb 1] Injured. He said he continued to use guns when he joined the Army in 1974 and was part of an artillery unit during his four years of duty, spent primarily on border patrol in Germany. . I tried to get him to come to Texas. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. Its an understatement to say that theres not a day that goes by that I dont think about him," Lewis said. A motive has not been determined, Tolson said. 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. Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. 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. Related stories from Charlotte Observer. Later that year, civil rights icon John Lewis was beaten bloody at a Greyhound Bus Stop. The sixth victim of a shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina, earlier this week has died, the York County coroner announced Saturday. Sixty years ago, the city drew national attention for two racist incidents. All of us who knew Philip are shaking our heads. The elder Lewis said his life changed drastically since that day; his health has deteriorated and he suffers from insomnia. Adams often isolated himself, even as a player, his agent, Scott Casterline, told the AP. This is in addition to the $100 million that the NFL and its partners are already spending on medical and neuroscience research. The gunman's father told a Charlotte television station that he blamed football for problems that may have led his son to commit Wednesday's violence. He had several documented injuries in his career. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. It was the second time this year the House has voted to expand gun rights. 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. ", "Both men involved in this incident are long-standing, beloved members of our family at GSM. All structured data from the main, Property, Lexeme, and EntitySchema namespaces is available under the. Noah Lesslie and Adah Lesslie with their surviving parents Katie and Jeff Lesslie. April 11, 2021 at 10:27 a.m. EDT. Tolson said officers found the two repairmen in the yard of the home. McKee went on to say that Boston University has diagnosed CTE in 700 individuals, including 315 former NFL players. Gift Article . A study published in 2017 showed out of 111 NFL players whose brains were donated for CTE testing, 110 were found to have had the disease. Adams will be tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known as CTE, a degenerative brain disease found in those with a history of repetitive brain trauma, according to the York County Coroner's Office. Police charged 24-year-old Jarod Nelson with murder on Feb. 24 for his involvement in the crime. "I know without a doubt that life is fragile," Lesslie wrote, according to an excerpt. That family, prior to the events last April, loved people well in the community and would seek to go out of their way to help others.. Robert Lesslie and his wife had four children and five grandchildren,his website biography said. [3][4] Five of the shooting victims died, while a sixth is hospitalized in critical condition[5] with serious gunshot wounds. Phillip Adams, a former National Football League player, was named as the perpetrator. A safety and special teams player from South Carolina State, he joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick. Last December, Adam's family shared how hard it was to get the help they knew he needed. He felt like they were just trying to nickel and dime him. He says the medical community has known about the disease since the 1920s, but it started receiving more attention in the last decade when doctors started finding it in football players. Eight months after the fatal shootings, questions about the motive for the murders remain. We have even seen homicidal behavior in individuals diagnosed with CTE. "I saw one person laying on the ground.". He moved next to the Raiders, where he had two concussions in a three game period in 2012. "We did recover evidence at the scene that linked Mr. Adams to that area definitively," Tolsonsaid at a news conference Thursday. If we dont dialogue and talk about it, well never be able to fix it.. It is difficult to say that it alone resulted in these behaviors because usually, it's a complicated issue with many other factors," McKee said. Lewis and Shook were at the Lesslie home to do HVAC work. Adams mother said she wants the public to know about that, along with the danger of concussions. Robert Shook: Sixth person dies following Rock Hill mass shooting. 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. Rock Hill mass shooting. The latest - in which 2 children were killed - in Rock . 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. This is something I cant grasp yet. Neighbors described the family as having a strong Christian background, and the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church inRock Hill confirmed the family attended services. CTE, or Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a brain degeneration most likely caused by head trauma, according to the Mayo Clinic. "Dr. Lesslie was a pillar in this community with what he's been able to give back," he said. A gunman opened fire at a Rock . Adams brain will be tested for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),whichis believed to cause mood swings and changes in temperament. 2021 Rock Hill shooting Q106421390) The suspect is former NFL player Phillip Adams. But I did not teach my children to shoot guns, he said. Some teams wrote him off and he had that stigma of a guy who was hurt, Casterline said. "Seeing Phillip shoot two kids, it's not him. Adams would not have been eligible for testing as part of a broad settlement between the league and former players over such injuries, because he hadnt retired by 2014. There are people who are responsible, but when guns get in the hands of irresponsible people or people with mental illness or people who are out to get revenge on something, thats where the dynamics and direction goes into a negative feel.. 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. They just may need to say, You need to go talk to somebody, Wisher said. "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. 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. His mental health degraded fast and terribly bad, Lauren Adams told USA TODAY Sports of Phillip Adams, a cornerback who played in the NFL between 2010 and 2015. In many instances, it is a disease of the young.". Police say Phillip Adams shot six people, including prominent Rock Hill doctor Robert Lesslie, before taking his own life. 2:37 a.m., April 8: Adams is confirmed dead inside his home. In the twelve months that have passed since that day, Rock Hill community honors those killed in mass shooting, Family issues statement 1 year after shooting killed 6 people at Rock Hill home, Phillip Adams went to the Lesslie home and killed six people, Deputies provide timeline of events for Rock Hill shooting, found he suffered from a severe case of a brain disease, Ex-NFL player who killed 6 in Rock Hill had 'severe' CTE, doctor says, Could a head injury in sports lead to CTE? But thats a slippery slope. Tolson said a .45-caliber and a 9 mm weapon were used in Wednesday's shooting. Call 911. 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. By Andrew Dys and. 9 mm handgun [2] Deaths. By Andrew Dys and. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? "Dr. Lesslie has been one of those people that everybody knows. Robert Shook, 38, died Saturday from injuries sustained during the shooting, the York County Coroner said. The physician also penned a number of collections of what he termed inspiring true stories from his work. 0:59. The NFL is committed to supporting scientific research into CTE and advancing progress in the prevention and treatment of head injuries. Jackson declined to address the Adams killings but said, The solution is we need to have responsible gun owners and gun carriers. Casterline said he spoke regularly with the gunman's father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning. It's a few houses down from the Lesslies' home, which sits on a heavily wooded property surrounded by a black fence. 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. Case studies such as those compiled in this updated paper are important to further advancing the science and progress related to head trauma. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to speak publicly. a beloved doctor and his two young grandchildren, The shooting happened just beforePresident Joe Biden, Doctor Robert Lesslie and family among those killed by Phillip Adams in South Carolina shooting: What we know, Ex-NFL player Phillip Adams' 'mental health degraded fast and terribly bad,' says sister, Breaking down Phillip Adams' NFL career: 'I think the football messed him up,' says Adams' father, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. But Daneshvar says anyone who is repeatedly hit in the head is at risk of CTE, including boxers and victims of domestic violence. He treated everyone with respect.". Cowboys cornerback Kevin Smith, who trained Adams, said the former NFL player had opened a shop selling smoothies before COVID-19 hit. "We did try to negotiate and get him out of the room that he was in.". 2021, 10:55 AM. cornerback, went to the Rock Hill, S.C., home of a prominent doctor and shot everybody he saw before . He founded two urgent care centers in the area and wrote a weekly medical column for The Charlotte Observer. The Lesslie family said in a statement, "We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. "I have come to understand that humility may be the greatest virtue. As noted by the authors, there are still many unanswered questions relating to the cause, incidence and prevalence of long-term effects of head trauma such as CTE. The direction in Rock Hill and nationally remains unclear. Moments later, a vehicle pulled into the Adams' driveway and law enforcement quickly surrounded the property. 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. Barbara and Robert Lesslie sang in the choir. 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. At Thursdays news conference, Tolson played audio of two 911 calls, the first from an HVAC company that employed Lewis and Shook. Two weeks after the rally against gun violence in Rock Hill, gun show is scheduled to be held there at the American Legion Post 34. A prominent local doctor, his wife and their two young grandchildren were among those killed Wednesday in a shooting at their home in Rock Hill, South Carolina. ROCK HILL, S.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) . FROM APRIL 2021: Rock Hill community honors those killed in mass shooting Thomas Lewis, who is the father of James Lewis, said time doesn't heal all wounds, but he's learning to live with the loss. There was unusual behavior. You got yahoos out there that are crazy,"said Ramseur, who during the funeral April 16 found herself pulled in by Reverend Browns refrain. I can say hes a good kid, Alonzo Adams told WCNC-TV. When police searched Dr. Lesslies office, they found no evidence Phillip Adams was his patient. [3] [4] Five of the shooting victims died, while a sixth is hospitalized in critical condition [5] with serious gunshot wounds. The shooting happened just beforePresident Joe Bidenunveiledhis first major steps to address gun violence, directing his administration to tighten restrictions on so-called ghost guns, untraceable weapons that can be constructed from parts purchased online. , "He wasn't a monster. McKee compared Adams' CTE pathology to that of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez, who was diagnosed with CTE after his death in 2017. Dr. Carlton Brown stood behind the casket. Patrick Wisher, owner of the Sportsman Inc gun store and firing range in Rock Hill, said the guns are getting unnecessary blame for the tragedy. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Two police cars sat parked outside the Robinson Funeral Home as Brown delivered the eulogy. Robert Shook, an air conditioning technician, initially . "Theres really not an hour that goes by.". Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis, Phillip Adams' family says ex-NFL player was struggling after playing career, Justin Bannan says head trauma from football is to blame, Adams behavior shifted dramatically, said his sister, Lauren, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I tried to get him to come to Texas. We now know that these deficits were most likely caused by the disease. Adams father told a Charlotte television station that he blamed football for problems that may have led his son to commit Wednesdays violence. Billed as a revival, a rally against gun violence in Rock Hill is scheduled for Saturday. Article bookmarked. Please enter valid email address to continue. It raised $400,000, which was split evenly between the families. 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 . The sheriff said, "Dr. Lesslie was a pillar in this community.". 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. This page was last edited on 8 August 2022, at 15:13. 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. "It's a progressive disease that worsens with age. As a rookie, Adams suffered a severe ankle injury and never played for the 49ers again. Rock Hill PD (WSOC) By WSOCTV.com News Staff March 24, 2021 at 1:07 pm EDT ROCK HILL, S.C. Police in Rock Hill said a man is behind bars after he shot and killed another man Wednesday morning. ", The NFL said in a statement, "Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims of these devastating tragedies.". Adah loved to read, and so that was the thought behind the library, and Noah loved snacks and food. 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. He's a great kid, a great guy. "He didn't drink not one bit of alcohol," Smith said. 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. They don't have the staff to do it, he said. GSM Services identified the surviving victim as Robert Shook, a father of three and "long-time devoted technician." The timeline begins with the initial 911 call and ends with deputies confirming the suspect, 32-year-old Phillip Adams, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Later, with the Raiders, he had two concussions over three games in 2012. "One is unresponsive, another is talking slurred, and he can't talk. It has helped to guide us deeper into fellowship with one another in love. Faris said Lesslie was very well known in the Rock Hill community. The Associated Press contributed to this report. As far as I know it is, Tom Ayres, the organizations finance officer, told USA TODAY Sports. Posted: Apr 8, 2021 / 12:37 PM EDT. Phillip is not the first to battle this disease and he will not be the last, Thank you so much to Boston University the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Its hard to say.". 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 following statement that we shared after the event remains true to this day. The church opened its doors on Thursday for a day of prayer. Second suspect arrested for murder in deadly Rock Hill shooting Posted: Mar 3, 2021 / 12:10 PM EST. The losseswe are suffering cannot be uttered at this time. As a rookie late in the 2010 season, the gunman suffered a severe ankle injury that required surgery that included several screws being inserted into the leg. 4:56 p.m.: K9 and drone assistance is requested to the scene. Eventually, they found him dead in a bedroom, Tolson said. Lewis was working at the home for acompany that specializes in air conditioning, roof and heating repair, police said. Police say Adams took his own life as officers were closing in on him. McKee believes repetitive blows to the head, even low-impact injuries, caused Adams to develop the brain disease. [4], On April 8, 2021, the York County Sheriff's Office said in a press conference that the suspect was Adams.