Im not going to get into all that (symptoms). Tobie Nell Perkins. The physician also penned a number of collections of what he termed inspiring true stories from his work. A motive has not been determined, Tolson said. What matters most, Brown told the crowd, is what happens next.. Among the victims: local doctor Robert Lesslie, his wife Barbara, their grandsons Adah and Noah, and North Carolina HVAC technicians James Lewis and Robert Shook. ', RELATED: Family issues statement 1 year after shooting killed 6 people at Rock Hill home. On April 7, 2021, six people, including two children, were shot at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. Marshals, Homeland Security and the Kansas State Police. April 11, 2021 at 10:27 a.m. EDT. Both worked for GSM Services in York County. And what happens next to the NFL, which faces increasing scrutiny about its care for retired players? ROCK HILL, S.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) . Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? Adams, 32, played in 78 NFL games over six seasons for six teams. "Mr. Adams' CTE pathology was different than the other young NFL players with CTE," McKee said. Sunday 11 April 2021 15:50. Thursday 08 April 2021 22:32. . Article bookmarked. ", 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. mass-shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He moved next to the Raiders, where he had two concussions in a three game period in 2012. RELATED: Shooting suspect Phillip Adams played 6 NFL seasons. The following statement that we shared after the event remains true to this day. 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. Sixty years ago, the city drew national attention for two racist incidents. He felt like they were just trying to nickel and dime him. Police say Adams took his own life as officers were closing in on him. "He had treated me in the past," he said. He spent many years working in emergency rooms in the Charlotte area, according to his website biography. Ex-NFL player Phillip Adams kills 5, injures 1 in Rock Hill, SC before killing himself. Eight months after the fatal shootings, questions about the motive for the murders remain. "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. Adams, a Rock Hill native, was a former NFL player,according to ESPN. 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. I was going to find him a job, but he wouldnt leave South Carolina because he had a son. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Download the Queen City News Charlotte app, Man dies after being shot multiple times in Rock Hill, police say, Le Creuset just launched a dreamy new color for spring, Our fitness expert weighs in on this years top spring, Little Sugar Creek now connects NoDa to Pineville, Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84, Fix it now. Over 300 AA employees strike, VIDEO: Black bear surprises principal at school dumpster, Cornelius seeks exceptional projects for development, Bride killed in golf cart crash, driver faces DUI, US tracking balloon spotted off coast of Hawaii, Palestinian prisoner dies in Israel after long hunger, Serbia, Kosovo leaders in EU-backed talks to normalize, King Charles III makes space for faith at his coronation, Campaigners call for fossil fuel deadline, more climate, Challenger in Turkey presidential race offers sharp, Kishida plans to visit Yoon in South Korea before, Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages, May Day: Worlds workers rally, France sees pension, Ukraine war looms over Switzerland UN presidency, DMV adjusts appointments, walk-in availability, New college program for teens exiting foster care, Store clerk faces charges in intoxicated mans death, 7 bodies found in search for two missing OK teens, Small Charlotte-area airport boost for PGA event, CLT auto repair owner violated Clean Air Act: DOJ, Meck Co. retirees dependents given insurance extension, Top elected leader says hell consider retiree concerns, Woman charged with DUI in deadly golf cart crash, Meck Co. retirees dont have the benefits they thought, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "Theres really not an hour that goes by.". It was the second time this year the House has voted to expand gun rights. Rock Hill mass shooting. The people that they dedicate to the benefits are spread very thin. According to doctors, CTE has been found in professional athletes and symptoms include cognitive, behavioral and mood changes. What happens next for in acommunity that has struggled with race relations? He started Riverview Medical Center in Rock Hill and it's been a staple in Rock Hill for years.". Later, with the Raiders, he had two concussions over three games in 2012. An autopsy and toxicology report on Adams is slated to take place soon. 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. All the deaths are being investigated as homicides, according to the York County Coroner's Office. Lesslie practiced in the area since 1981. April 9, 2021, 6:13 PM. Police charged 24-year-old Jarod Nelson with murder on Feb. 24 for his involvement in the crime. "Dr. Lesslie has been one of those people that everybody knows. 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. He was a good father," Casterline said. A man who had been working at the Lesslie home, James Lewis, 38, from Gaston, was found shot to death outside. 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. Later that year, civil rights icon John Lewis was beaten bloody at a Greyhound Bus Stop. Meyers was tracked to Kansas with help from the U.S. 6 [nb 1] Injured. Adams played football for most of his life, including six years in the NFL. CTE, or Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a brain degeneration most likely caused by head trauma, according to the Mayo Clinic. [3][4] Five of the shooting victims died, while a sixth is hospitalized in critical condition[5] with serious gunshot wounds. 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. The Lesslie family were longtime members of the First ARP Church in Rock Hill. But Daneshvar says anyone who is repeatedly hit in the head is at risk of CTE, including boxers and victims of domestic violence. His voice grew louder as he stood behind the casket and continued the eulogy. A gunman opened fire at a Rock . Updated: 5:05 PM EDT April 23, 2021. Local Here's what we know about the mass shooting in Rock Hill April 08, 2021 2:12 PM . Operator in limo crash that killed 20 goes on trial in Schoharie, N.Y. 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. She said authorities repeatedly asked Adams to come out, and promised to get his disabled mother out safely, before Adams shot himself. 0:00. 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. Contributors include AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner in New York and Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia; Sports writer Josh Dubow in Alameda, Calif.; Legal affairs writer Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia and Nell Redmond in Rock Hill. 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. York County deputies revealed more new details in an update on April 16, stressing that any updates they shared with the public would come after being first shared with the families of the victims. 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. "Through the decades, they made such an incredible impact on our area and the lives of countless people," Norman said in a statement. Its devastating for the victims and the families.". She said Adams' 20-year football career undoubtedly contributed to CTE. I mean, he could have walked in the house with a hammer and killed everybody,"Wisher said. Because somebody may not like somebody and say, You know what, I dont think you should own a gun. The gunman would not have been eligible for testing as part of a broad settlement between the league and its former players over such injuries because he hadn't retired by 2014. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Both he and Casterline emphasized Adams didnt drink or do drugs. Robert Lesslie and his wife had four children and five grandchildren,his website biography said. The suspected gunman . Casterline said he spoke regularly with Adams father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning. 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. Neighbors described the family as having a strong Christian background, and the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church inRock Hill confirmed the family attended services. Last December, Adam's family shared how hard it was to get the help they knew he needed. 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. Whether the gunman suffered long-lasting injuries from his concussions as a player wasn't immediately clear. 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. . Dr. Robert Lesslie was a prominent doctor in Rock Hill. Example video title will go here for this video. When Adams was buried at Grandview Memorial Park-Hollis Lakes April 16, the customary, temporary name marker was not left by his grave site. 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. "This is something I can't grasp yet. 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. James Lewis, who was killed at the shooting at the Lesslie home in South Carolina, is shown in an undated family photo. I tried to get him to come to Texas. "It is in fact, not what I would consider unusual in this disease.". The arrest of juveniles in Rock Hill shooting incidents is the third since July, police and court records show. "It's a progressive disease that worsens with age. He was a good father.". Two police cars sat parked outside the Robinson Funeral Home as Brown delivered the eulogy. ROCK HILL, S.C. Rev. 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. "He didn't drink not one bit of alcohol," Smith said. 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. "He was part of my family. 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. "He was a longtime doctor who treated me in the past. Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina has offered his condolences to the five victims who were shot in the Rock Hill shooting that happened overnight on . [4], On April 8, 2021, the York County Sheriff's Office said in a press conference that the suspect was Adams. A copy of Adams disability benefits file will show if he ever applied and, if he did, what the status was, according to Scott. Adams father said he requested a copy of the file April 20 from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and was told it would take two weeks to produce. Will the killings test the character of Rock Hill? Left to Right Brendon Meyers, Jarod Nelson (courtesy of the Rock Hill Police Department). Among the victims were Rock Hill doctor Robert Lesslie, Barbara Lesslie, Adah Lesslie, Noah Lesslie, Robert Shook and Tom Lewis. 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. 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. These details do not significantly change the timeline of events whatsoever, but instead, add more context to how deputies moved forward in their initial investigation. Robert and Barbara Lesslie in a photo posted to Robert Lesslie's website. The 38-year-old dedicated his life to his parents, his children, and the woman he planned to marry. All of us who knew Philip are shaking our heads. 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. RELATED: Ex-NFL player who killed 6 in Rock Hill had 'severe' CTE, doctor says. "There's nothing about this right nowthat makes sense to any of us," York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said Thursday afternoon at a news conference. 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. 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. 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. Lesslieand his wife had four children and eight grandchildren, according to a website bio. The family issued the following statement: "As we process these results, we are deeply saddened by the events that occurred on April 7 and we continue to pray for the families of the victims. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to speak publicly. "It was different in that it was unusually severe in both frontal lobes.". He just keeps saying, I've been shot, I've been shot. a former NFL player accused of killing six people in a mass shooting in Rock Hill before taking his own life in early April, . 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. John D. Simmons/The Charlotte Observer via AP. By Andrew Dys and. The Lesslie family said in a statement, "We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Gray, president of the NAACP chapter in Rock Hill, said Its impossible to ignore the racial element of the killings. Some teams wrote him off and he had that stigma of a guy who was hurt, Casterline said. "I saw one person laying on the ground.". The suspect, 32-year-old Phillip Adams, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at a nearby home, the York County Sheriff's Office said. As far as I know it is, Tom Ayres, the organizations finance officer, told USA TODAY Sports. This is something I cant grasp yet. He treated everyone with respect.". They evacuated the neighbors as they spent hours searching for a suspect with police dogs. "No parent should outlive their child.". Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The NFLPA did not respond to requests for comment. Left to Right - Brendon Meyers, Jarod Nelson (courtesy of the Rock Hill Police Department) In a statement Friday afternoon, the company said they feeling "guarded" about Shook's fluctuating condition. Barbara and Robert Lesslie sang in the choir. . 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.. And towardthe end he felt like they were trying to basically stiff him on money," Lauren Adams said. He had to not be in his right mind, obviously," Casterline 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. In 2020, there were nine homicides in Rock Hill and six of them were shooting deaths, according to Michael Chavis, Public Information Officer for the Rock Hill Police Department. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Lesslie had worked for decades as an emergency room doctor in Rock Hill, 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. "We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? I loved him. Oakland Raiders cornerback Phillip Adams carries the ball on a 30-yard punt return against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sept. 15, 2013. Moments later, a vehicle pulled into their driveway and law enforcement quickly surrounded the property. 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. You got yahoos out there that are crazy,"said Ramseur, who during the funeral April 16 found herself pulled in by Reverend Browns refrain. So that was the thought behind the snack shack" Associate Pastor Jon Oliphant explained. 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. November 25, 2021. This is so unlike him. He struggled away from the game. 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. This is so unlike him. "There is nothing about this right now that makes sense to any of us," the sheriff said. It was hard for him to walk away from the game, especially a guy as dedicated as he was., We encouraged him to explore all of his disability options and he wouldnt do it, Casterline added. 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. The sheriff said, "Dr. Lesslie was a pillar in this community.". 4:59 p.m.: South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) helicopter requested. ROCK HILL, S.C. As the community of Rock Hill, South Carolina continues to reel from the tragic April 7 shooting that claimed six lives, we're taking a . Allison Hope, who lives across from Adams modest one-story brick home, about a mile from the Lesslies, said police allowed her to return home around 9 p.m. Wednesday. 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. 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. He never played for the 49ers again, getting released just before the 2011 season began and signing with New England. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He had an injury his rookie year. Gift Article . "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. We now know that these deficits were most likely caused by the disease. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He worked in emergency rooms for decades, including as medical director of the emergency department at Rock Hill General Hospital for almost 15 years, according to thebio. We are pleased to have a better understanding of the mental turmoil that Phillip was dealing with during the last moments of his life. / CBS/AP. By Andrew Dys and. 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. 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.. 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. the VA, and all of the folks that have helped its and many other families to get these much-needed answers.". 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. However, a donation by his family could lead to future medical advances. Adams often isolated himself, even as a player, his agent, Scott Casterline, told the AP. In his house, everything was precisely placed.". 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. When police searched Dr. Lesslies office, they found no evidence Phillip Adams was his patient. She said they spent hours negotiating with the gunman, using a loudspeaker and sending in a robot to scan the house. Cowboys cornerback Kevin Smith, who trained Adams, said the former NFL player had opened a shop selling smoothies before COVID-19 hit. Right now, the disease can only be diagnosed after death, when doctors use a sample of brain tissue to study the brain. 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. 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. She said authorities spent hours negotiating with Adams, using a loudspeaker and sending in a robot to scan the house. They just may need to say, You need to go talk to somebody, Wisher said. 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. [3] [4] Five of the shooting victims died, while a sixth is hospitalized in critical condition [5] with serious gunshot wounds. Between 9:30-10:30 p.m., April 7:Phillip Adams' home is cleared by YCSO. Hefounded two urgent care centers in the area and was an author and columnist. Ex-NFL player Phillip Adams kills 5, injures 1 in Rock Hill, SC before killing himself. Adah loved to read, and so that was the thought behind the library, and Noah loved snacks and food. "It is impossible to imagine the grief that the extended Lesslie family must be feeling," he said. What matters most is what happens next,"he cried. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Youre crazy. And theyll come take away your guns.. 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 .