South Carolina mass shooting: Former NFL pro killed five, then himself, AP source says Error. Something went wrong. April 08, 2021 at 9:43 am EDT By WSOCTV.com News Staff YORK COUNTY, S.C. — The gunman who killed five people, including a prominent doctor in York County, was former NFL pro Phillip Adams, who killed himself early Thursday, according to a source who was briefed on the investigation. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, said Adams’ parents live near the doctor’s home in Rock Hill, and that he had been treated by the doctor. [ Who was Robert Lesslie, well-known doctor killed in York County mass shooting? ] The source said Adams killed himself after midnight with a .45 caliber weapon. A separate source also confirmed with Channel 9 anchor Allison Latos that Adams was the shooter but could not say if he had died by suicide. >> Stay up-to-date on breaking news by downloading the WSOC app. The mass shooting on Wednesday evening left five people, including two children, dead, authorities said. The York County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was found in a nearby home. Officials had not released any details about him though, and couldn’t say what the motive for the shooting was. “We have ID’d the person we feel is responsible for the shooting on Marshall Rd. We found him in a nearby house. There is no active threat to the community,” the York County Sheriff’s Office tweeted. [ ALSO READ: Second arrest made after man shot, killed outside York County house ] The York County coroner’s office said Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, were pronounced dead at the scene along with grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5. The shooting happened at the Lesslie’s home, deputies said. Dr. Robert Lesslie Dr. Robert Lesslie (robertlesslie.com) A fifth victim, James Lewis, 38, from Gastonia, was found dead outside. Authorities said he had been working at the home when he was shot. The coroner said all five deaths have been ruled homicides. York County Sheriff’s Office’s spokesperson Trent Faris said a sixth person was hospitalized with “serious gunshot wounds.” On Thursday morning, Channel 9 reporter Ken Lemon confirmed that Lewis worked at Gaston Sheet Metal Services in Gastonia and that the person who survived the shooting was also an employee at GSM Services. A note letting customers know the business was closed Thursday was posted on the front door, saying, ”Our team at GSM Services is heartbroken from the events that transpired yesterday evening in York, SC. Both men involved in this incident are long-standing, beloved members of our family at GSM. 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. In the coming days, our focus is on helping these families and our team members cope with this tragedy ... Please continue to keep our families in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days.” Faris said deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. to the home on Marshall Road in the Rock Hill area. In a news release, the York County Coroner’s Office said it responded to the home “to investigate multiple deaths at the residence.” >> Channel 9 will have continuing coverage of this developing story and will have the latest updates throughout the day on Channel 9. Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the area and could see two medical helicopters and an ambulance responding to the scene before deputies asked our helicopter to stand down. A SWAT team vehicle was also spotted.
Maybe, but with it being a Dr that he killed, may have been an issue with how he or someone he knows was treated by the Dr. Regardless, sad story. Just damn.
Jesus fucking Christ that’s disturbing. I don’t know why I even click on these threads. I just can’t fathom how fucked in the head you have to be to kill a 9 and 5 year old.
It's been a really depressing morning. Can Jen Psaki have a press conference and call on Peter Doocey or Ted Cruz go after AOC again? I need cheering up. The only thing that comes close to making me feel anything is the fact that he is dead.
Yeah I can at least wrap my mind around why someone would get to the point of deciding to kill another adult. But how could there even be a motive with two kids under 10? Just random crazy person shit.
Meanwhile in the great state of Iowa we just passed a law making it legal to conceal carry without a permit. That should definitely help slow down the mass shootings. So fucking stupid.
https://www.tsn.ca/winnipeg-blue-bombers-release-wr-travis-rudolph-after-arrest-in-florida-1.1619649 Shit thought it was this guy. Sad this shit keeps happening.
Hearsay, but read on another site doctor prescribed him pain pills and had recently cut him off. Can't rule out CTE in combination though. Horrible
Maybe they just got killed bc they were there? Idk, anything is possible. I'm not jumping to any conclusions here with no info. I just don't think we should jump to CTE right away.
You'd think he'd just rob them, then use the money to get drugs somewhere else. The crazy violent overreaction of murdering the whole family, getting no drugs, then killing yourself would seem to point to a CTE type screw loose. All of that is horrible speculation without knowing facts, but hey it's a message board
Killed himself, so we'll probably never know his motive. Really sad. Feel for the family of the murdered.
Doctor was a family friend and I went to school with the killer, this is pretty surreal. Killer was never a bad seed growing up I’m thinking CTE played a part
I'm really sorry to hear that. Someone else I know was also close with the family. Wish you all the best and want to express my condolences.
Yeah looks like Dr. Lesslie was Adams’ physician, wonder if he quit prescribing him opioids. Playing special teams and scout team for 6 years in the NFL can’t be good for one’s health. What a huge fucking tragedy.
Feel for that family. Can’t imaging how sick you need to be to murder innocent people let alone kids under 10.
To throw salt in the wound, the Lesslies were extremely charitable and warm people. It’s hard to even fathom someone hating them much less killing them
Idk if they will or even can look at his brain after he presumably shot himself in the head but seems like a definite possibility
If all this was over being cut off from opiates it still doesnt add up. Why not rob a place and buy some pills rather than kill 5 people and still not have pills? I guess an addicts mind is irrational but goddamn.
The shooter’s mother was a teacher at my old elementary school (I’m not sure if she still works) before she was paralyzed in an accident several years ago. This has got to be a combo of CTE/opioid addiction. I just feel for the families. The Adams are very kind people. Didn’t really know the victims other than by reputation. One of the guys at my gym was a cop that responded on the scene and he told us what was happening as he left, just couldn’t fathom it when all the info about who was involved came out.
Was an ER doc apparently. With some of the drug seeking behaviour I hear about every day in the ER wouldn't even need CTE. That said, what percentage of NFL players don't have some level of CTE?
I think he was more recently running a hospice care center but the parents of the shooter and he lived on the same street out in the sticks.