Who is Phillip Adams? Former NFL pro kills 5, including Dr Lesslie, in South Carolina before shooting himself dead
YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: Five members from a single household are dead following a shooting at their home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, according to York County Sheriff's Office. The gunman who carried out these killings shot himself after the massacre and is said to have suffered serious injuries. He was later pronounced dead.
The shooting happened around 5 pm near Marshall Road. The people who died in this incident have been identified as Dr Robert Leslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69. Their grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 7, and Noah Lesslie, 5, were also shot and pronounced dead.
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A fifth victim was identified as James Lewis, 38, who was working at the house when he was shot, according to the York County coroner's office. A sixth person was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries from the gunshot wounds. The suspected gunman was found at a nearby house after a huge search operation that lasted hours. He had killed himself with a .45-caliber weapon.
Who is Phillip Adams?
The 33-year-old Phillip Adams was a former NFL player who played in 78 games for six teams, over a period of five seasons. A safety and special teams player from South Carolina State, he joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick but was released just before the 2011 season.
Adams also was with New England, Seattle, Atlanta, Oakland and the New York Jets, Late in 2010, he had suffered a fatal ankle injury that required surgery and included several screws being inserted into his leg. He was on the roster for a full season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2013. His career ended with him playing for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.
Who was Dr Robert Lesslie?
Dr Lesslie had worked for decades as an emergency room doctor in Rock Hill. He was board-certified in both emergency medicine and occupational medicine and served as emergency department medical director for close to 15 years at the Rock Hill General Hospital, according to his website.
He founded two urgent care centers in the area and wrote a weekly medical column for The Charlotte Observer. He also wrote a book 'Angels in the ER' collecting what he termed "inspiring true stories" from his time in the emergency department. York County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Trent Faris said that Dr Lesslie was a noted figure in the Rock Hill community.
Dr Lesslie and his wife, Barbara, had been married for over 35 years and shared four children: Lori, Amy, Robbie, and Jeffrey, and had five grandchildren. He was an active member of his home church in Rock Hill where he served as an elder, and he and his wife, Barbara, taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir.
They were also involved with an outreach program for disabled/handicapped individuals, Camp Joy, where Dr. Lesslie served as the camp physician for a week each summer.