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. 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. They evacuated the neighbors as they spent hours searching for a suspect with police dogs. In his house, everything was precisely placed.". When Adams was buried at Grandview Memorial Park-Hollis Lakes April 16, the customary, temporary name marker was not left by his grave site. Some teams wrote him off and he had that stigma of a guy who was hurt, Casterline said. Tolson said evidence at the scene led authorities to Adams as a suspect. It raised $400,000, which was split evenly between the families. 'HE WAS BATTLING SOMETHING:'Phillip Adams' family says ex-NFL player was struggling after playing career, ANOTHER FORMER PLAYER, ANOTHER SHOOTING:Justin Bannan says head trauma from football is to blame. mass-shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He had to not be in his right mind, obviously," Casterline said. Deputies say this retelling of events was relayed to them by Shook as he lay injured outside. A man who had been working at the home, James Lewis, 38, from Gaston, was found shot to death outside. The sixth victim of a shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina, earlier this week has died, the York County coroner announced Saturday. The people that they dedicate to the benefits are spread very thin. He liked to laugh, he loved good jokes, he loved pranks, he loved to fish," Lewis said. 4:56 p.m.: K9 and drone assistance is requested to the scene. He felt like they were just trying to nickel and dime him. The 38-year-old dedicated his life to his parents, his children, and the woman he planned to marry. As the York County community mourned, Rock Hill and the shooting attracted headlines around the country. Tolson said there was no indication the gunman, Phillip Adams, had a doctor-patient relationship with Robert Lesslie. 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. The Lesslie family were longtime members of the First ARP Church in Rock Hill. Oakland Raiders cornerback Phillip Adams carries the ball on a 30-yard punt return against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sept. 15, 2013. She said he was going through a disability claim with the NFL and had been feeling frustrated, explaining he'd been seeing doctors and recently moved in with his parents. He struggled away from the game. As a rookie, Adams suffered a severe ankle injury and never played for the 49ers again. The Lesslie family said in a statement, "We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. "Dr. Lesslie has been one of those people that everybody knows. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The family released a statement through the sheriff's office describing their grief andhope and calling for prayers for all involved, including the suspect's family. Moments later, a vehicle pulled into their driveway and law enforcement quickly surrounded the property. 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. We will continue to advocate for any research that can prevent any other families from having to endure this type of tragedy We want people to understand that this could happen to anyone. All of us who knew Philip are shaking our heads. After the shooting, a GoFundMe was started for the families of Robert Shook and James Lewis. "He was a bit of a neat freak. He had several documented injuries in his career. ", More:Breaking down Phillip Adams' NFL career: 'I think the football messed him up,' says Adams' father. Around 5 p.m.: York County deputies enter the Lesslie household and find four gunshot wound victims inside. Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara, 69, were pronounced dead in their home in Rock Hill along with grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5, the York County coroners office said. Lewis shares his pain with the Lesslie and the Shook families. Rock Hill mass shooting. This tragedy is still new, still fresh, so were going tocontinue to take it day by day and mourn the losses and hug on each other and love on each other as best we can.. Tolson said both a .45-caliber and 9mm weapon were used in Wednesdays shooting. Police searching the Lesslies home, which is up a driveway from an arched stone gateand not visible from the road, found the doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren together in a room at the back of the house. 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. Among the victims were Rock Hill doctor Robert Lesslie, Barbara Lesslie, Adah Lesslie, Noah Lesslie, Robert Shook and Tom Lewis. And I am convinced we need to take the time to say the things we deeply feel to the people we deeply care about.". Adams was arrested in 2016 in North Carolina and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor. Phillip Adams, a former National Football League player, was named as the perpetrator. Updated on: April 8, 2021 / 7:00 PM The Associated Press contributed to this report. He joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick out of South Carolina State, and though he rarely started, he went on to play for New England, Seattle, Oakland and the New York Jets before finishing his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. 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. ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) The man charged with killing someone in South Carolina this week had wounded the same victim in a shootout at a North Carolina mall earlier this year, investigators said. RELATED: Could a head injury in sports lead to CTE? Adams, a Rock Hill native, was a former NFL player,according to ESPN. He said they went to Adams parents home, evacuated them and then tried to talk Adams out of the house. 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.. The gunman often isolated himself, even as a player, his agent, Scott Casterline, told the AP. The NFL is committed to supporting scientific research into CTE and advancing progress in the prevention and treatment of head injuries. He also wrote a book, "Angels in the ER," collecting what he termed "inspiring true stories" from his time in the emergency department. (Independent) Alonzo Adams, the father of former NFL player Phillip Adams, said his son shot six people, killing five, before killing himself in Rock Hill, South Carolina. However, a donation by his family could lead to future medical advances. RELATED: Deputies provide timeline of events for Rock Hill shooting. Rock Hill is a city in northernmost South Carolina about 25 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina. 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. "In the coming days, our focus is on helping these families and our team members cope with this tragedy. 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. 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. He founded two urgent care centers in the area and wrote a weekly medical column for The Charlotte Observer. She said that of 24 former NFL players who died in their 20s and 30s, most of them had Stage 2 CTE. Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist and expert on neurogenerative diseases at Boston University, said Adams had severe CTE in both frontal lobes of his brain. Updated: Mar 3, 2021 / 12:10 PM EST. I tried to get him to come to Texas. 4:52 p.m.: YCSO units arrive on the scene at the Lesslie family's property. He just keeps saying, I've been shot, I've been shot. Andrew Dys, The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) 9/17/2021. Editor's note: The above section on additional details came during the April 16 update. Adah loved to read, and so that was the thought behind the library, and Noah loved snacks and food. Robert Shook, 38, died Saturday from injuries sustained during the shooting, the York County Coroner said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "He was part of my family. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Police charged 24-year-old Jarod Nelson with murder on Feb. 24 for his involvement in the crime. NFL Draft Hub: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis. 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? He said they went to his parents' home, evacuated them and then tried to talk the gunman out of the house. Call 911. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. 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. 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. As an adult, Phillip Adams began collecting guns and using them, according to his father, who said he occasionally went to a shooting range with his son. Monique Ramseur, manager of the funeral home, said she felt there was no choice but to enlist the help of law enforcement given the circumstances. She said they repeatedly asked Adams to come outand promised to get his disabled mother out safely. In search of answers, Adams family donated his brain to Boston Universitys CTE Center, where Dr. Ann McKeefound he suffered from a severe case of a brain disease most often seen in athletes. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot and killed at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. 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 . 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. It would be impossible for the disability office, as it's structured now, to reach players who are in need of help rather than waiting for those players to ask for help, according to Scott. Tobie Nell Perkins. A gunman opened fire at a Rock . Phillip Adams, a former National Football League player, was named as the suspect. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. "It was different in that it was unusually severe in both frontal lobes.". I can say hes a good kid, Alonzo Adams told WCNC-TV. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. 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 killed himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting to death six people April 7 less than a mile away from his house. Both he and Casterline emphasized Adams didnt drink or do drugs. Adams father, Alonzo, said guns are part of the familys culture. Cowboys cornerback Kevin Smith, who trained Adams, said the former NFL player had opened a shop selling smoothies before COVID-19 hit. "Seeing Phillip shoot two kids, it's not him. "We are working hard to provide some answers.". Weve got a long way to go in our community in a lot of different ways, Mayor John Gettys told USA TODAY Sports. 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. He said authorities contacted Adams'family and found he lived nearby. In a statement Friday afternoon, the company said they feeling "guarded" about Shook's fluctuating condition. At Thursdays news conference, Tolson played audio of two 911 calls, the first from an HVAC company that employed Lewis and Shook. Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, were pronounced dead at the scene in Rock Hill along with grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5, the York County coroner's office said. She said Adams' 20-year football career undoubtedly contributed to CTE. In the twelve months that have passed since that day, the families of the victims have struggled to cope with the loss. . Casterline said he spoke regularly with Adams father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. Gray said the Adams shootings and two others in Rock Hill this year clearly were incidents where individuals should have been red-flagged and were dealing with mental illness.. 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. April 11, 2021 at 10:27 a.m. EDT. Police say Phillip Adams shot six people, including prominent Rock Hill doctor Robert Lesslie, before taking his own life. Saturday evening: Robert Shook, the lone survivor of the shooting who was receiving medical treatment for his injuries, was confirmed to have died, according to the York County Coroner. I cant fathom it. This page was last edited on 8 August 2022, at 15:13. 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. A thick wooden cross stood prominently in the front yard of the Lesslie home on Marshall Road on Thursday afternoon. 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. I tried to get him to come to Texas. Eight months after the fatal shootings, questions about the motive for the murders remain. Im not going to get into all that (symptoms). 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. Adams, 32, played in 78 NFL games over six seasons for six teams. This March 12, 2009, file photo shows Dr. Robert Lesslie in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Thursday 08 April 2021 22:32. . 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. He was a good father," Casterline said. "All of us who knew Phillip are shaking our heads. McKee went on to say that Boston University has diagnosed CTE in 700 individuals, including 315 former NFL players. ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) Former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people, including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before killing himself early Thursday. 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. Later, with the Raiders, he had two concussions over three games in 2012. RELATED: Ex-NFL player who killed 6 in Rock Hill had 'severe' CTE, doctor says. RELATED: Shooting suspect Phillip Adams played 6 NFL seasons. I was going to find him a job, but he wouldnt leave South Carolina because he had a son. 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.. Robert and Barbara Lesslie in a photo posted to Robert Lesslie's website. Left to Right Brendon Meyers, Jarod Nelson (courtesy of the Rock Hill Police Department). I think the football messed him up.. A safety and special teams player from South Carolina State, he joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick. She said Adams had a severe case of it. Example video title will go here for this video. First published on April 8, 2021 / 4:40 AM. 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.. 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. A sixth victim, Robert Shook, 38, of Cherryville, North Carolina, was flown to a Charlotte hospital, where he was in critical condition fighting hard for his life, said a cousin, Heather Smith Thompson. "I have come to understand that humility may be the greatest virtue. Casterline said he spoke regularly with the gunman's father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning. "This is something I can't grasp yet. He had to not be in his right mind, obviously, Casterline said, adding that Adams struggled away from the game. Jeff is the son of Robert and Barbara Lesslie. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Sabrina Gast, the York County coroner, said Adams' family told officials he had complained of excruciating pain, memory issues and difficulty sleeping late in life. 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. 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. Dr. Robert Lesslie was a prominent doctor in Rock Hill. 0:59. Another employee,Robert Shook, was found injured. By participating in the research process, we hope to bring awareness to this condition so that players young and old can understand the risks. He treated everyone with respect.". "He had treated me in the past," he said. 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. The suspect is former NFL player Phillip Adams. The sheriff said, "Dr. Lesslie was a pillar in this community.". As far as I know it is, Tom Ayres, the organizations finance officer, told USA TODAY Sports. [3] [4] Five of the shooting victims died, while a sixth is hospitalized in critical condition [5] with serious gunshot wounds. "We are unsure of the time frame for results at this time.". Robert Shook, an air conditioning technician, initially . 0:59. Five people -- including two children -- were killed in a mass shooting at a Rock Hill home Wednesday afternoon. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. (Video: Reuters) Comment. They don't have the staff to do it, he said. I cant put it all together and Im trying to, and I witnessed it, Hope said. It's devastating for the victims and the families," Casterline said. "I know he had been applying for disability and he said they were making it hard for him. Adams family said he was experiencing psychiatric distress they think was linked to head trauma resulting from football. Myers faces charges of murder, possession of a weapon during a crime of violence and criminal conspiracy. Questions are still swirling about how this shooting happened, mainly on what led Adams to do this. The following statement that we shared after the event remains true to this day. 0. Marshals, Homeland Security and the Kansas State Police. He said the process can require players to travel out of state to see doctors and the benefit rules change often. And towardthe end he felt like they were trying to basically stiff him on money," Lauren Adams said. 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. And it would have been a lot more brutal that way.''. 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. 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. The incident was the latest mass shooting to rock the nation in recent weeks, including 10people slain in Boulder, Colorado,eight in the Atlanta area and four in Orange, California. November 25, 2021. I loved him. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Please call 911the man told a 911 operator. Five people are dead, including a doctor and two of his grandchildren, following a shooting at a home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Wednesday afternoon, according to the York County Sheriff's Office. "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, S.C. (AP) Former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people, including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before killing himself early Thursday. Noah Lesslie and Adah Lesslie with their surviving parents Katie and Jeff Lesslie. As CS Lewis has said, 'come further up, come further in. We cannot say that we are surprised by these results, however, it is shocking to hear how severe his condition was. 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. In recent years, Rock Hill has adopted the motto No Room for Racism.. 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. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. "It is in fact, not what I would consider unusual in this disease.". 6 [nb 1] Injured. Two weapons were recovered: a 9mm handgun and a .45-caliber handgun. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. His voice grew louder as he stood behind the casket and continued the eulogy. Its hard to say.". Whether the gunman suffered long-lasting injuries from his concussions as a player wasn't immediately clear. The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. on Marshall Road. Lewis said his son was a single father to three children. A motive has not been determined, Tolson said. A gunman killed six people including a prominent doctor and his grandchildren in South Carolina on Wednesday, prompting an hourslong search that led to a suspect in a nearby home, authorities said. "Mr. Adams' CTE pathology was different than the other young NFL players with CTE," McKee said. 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. Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ," said the statement, which was read at the news conference by Tolson. Robert Chipley, the promoter of The Great American Rock Hill Gun Show, said he is not surprised the event will be held, even less than two months after a killing spree the sixth in America this year, as trackedby The Washington Post. Lewis was working at the home for acompany that specializes in air conditioning, roof and heating repair, police said. Lesslie's2008 book, "Angels in the ER," told the stories of ER patients and staff, and for seven years, hewrote a weekly medical column for the Charlotte Observer. All were dead,Tolson said. And when he does sleep, he dreams of his son, who was his best friend. [6] Adams later killed himself before he could be arrested.[1][7]. Adams often isolated himself, even as a player, his agent, Scott Casterline, told The Associated Press. , "He wasn't a monster. "It doesn't happen here," said Trent Faris, a York County Sheriff's Office spokesman. They say the truth will set you free. Billed as a revival, a rally against gun violence in Rock Hill is scheduled for Saturday.