Phillip Adams news - live: Motive a mystery in Rock Hill mass shooting as Robert Lesslie’s final blog shared
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A gunman who shot dead five people in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Thursday before taking his own life has been identified by the York County Sheriff’s Department as former NFL player Phillip Adams.
“Once the investigation began, we were able to develop Phillip Adams as a suspect in this incident,” said Kevin Tolson, the York County sheriff.
The investigation was still ongoing about the motive behind the shooting on Wednesday, but Mr Tolson was able to reveal two 911 calls from the incident and further detail the standoff between police and Mr Adams after the shooting. Mr Tolson said that the former NFL player was found dead in his parents’ home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Among the five people killed in the shooting were two children, and prominent local doctor Dr Robert Lesslie.
The other victims of the shooting have been named as Dr Lesslie’s wife Barbara Lesslie, 69, and the couple’s grandchildren, nine-year-old Adah Lesslie, and five-year-old Noah Lesslie. The fifth victim was named as James Lewis, 38, while a sixth person was shot and has been hospitalised, AP reported.
Mr Lewis and the sixth person, whose identity was not yet revealed, were at the Lesslie household on Wednesday to do work on the home, the Mr Tolson said.
Alonzo Adams, the former NFL player’s father, confirmed to a local publication on Thursday that his son shot dead five people before taking his own life. “I think the football messed him up,” he said.
The father also revealed that he was a previous patient of Dr Lesslie. His home, which was where his son was found dead, was nearby to the Lesslie household, which was the location of the shooting.
Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog of the shooting that took place in Rock Hill, South Carolina
Ex-NFL player reported as gunman
The gunman in the fatal shooting of a renowned doctor and four others in South Carolina has been identified by the Associated Press as former NFL player Phillip Adams, who also killed himself in the incident.
Mr Adams’ body was discovered by investigators from York County Sheriff’s Office at a nearby home on Wednesday evening, just hours after the deadly shooting occurred at a house in the Rock Hill area.
The AP reported that Mr Adams died by suicide just after midnight by a .45 calibre weapon.
The former cornerback, who was born in Rock Hill, played for a number of teams including the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets during a six-year career.
Suspected gunman previously treated by renowned doctor, report says
Phillip Adams, a former NFL player, was identified as the gunman in the Rock Hill, South Carolina, shooting by the Associated Press.
Mr Adams was from the Rock Hill area and his parents lived near the home of Dr Robert Lesslie, who was killed in the shooting.
CNBC reports that Mr Adams was previously a patient of Dr Lesslie when he lived in Rock Hill.
The South Carolina town has been described as a tight-knit community with about 67,000 residents.
Investigators to hold a press conference
The York County Sheriff’s Department has announced it will hold a press conference on Thursday at 2pm local time at Moss Justice Center in York, South Carolina.
Investigators have yet to identify the suspected gunman in the shooting that took place on Wednesday. But Officer Trent Faris, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department, said they “found the person we believe is responsible and we are with him at this time and that’s all I can say about the suspect.”
The investigation was ongoing but investigators were treating the shooting as a homicide.
The Associated Press has identified the suspected gunman as Phillip Adams, a former NFL player who grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Police have yet to confirm the suspected gunman’s identity.
Five people, including two children, killed in mass shooting
There were five people who were killed on Wednesday during a shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Dr Robert Lesslie, 70, was a prominent doctor in the small town and revealed as one of the five victims in the shooting.
The other victims of the shooting have been named as Dr Lesslie’s wife Barbara Lesslie, 69, and the couple’s grandchildren, nine-year-old Adah Lesslie, and five-year-old Noah Lesslie. The fifth victim was named as James Lewis, 38.
A sixth person was also shot and has yet to be identified. The person was hospitalised with “serious gunshot wounds,” the York County Sheriff’s Department said.
The suspected gunman, who was identified by the Associated Press as former NFL player Phillip Adams, reportedly killed himself following the shooting.
Watch live as Joe Biden delivers remarks on gun violence
Joe Biden calls gun violence an ‘epidemic’ in speech
President Joe Biden gave a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House on Thursday about gun violence, hours after the deadly shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
“Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it’s an international embarrassment,” he said.
Mr Biden also briefly mentioned the shooting that just took place in South Carolina, as well as the ones in Boulder, Colorado, and Atlanta, Georgia, in March.
“The idea is just bizarre to suggest the things we’re recommending are against the Constitution,” Mr Biden said, while pushing for gun reform.
He was expected to sign several executive orders on Thursday to address gun violence in the United States.
Senator Tim Scott offers his condolences to the victims from Rock Hill shooting
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 Wednesday.
“Very sad news coming from York County overnight. My deepest sympathies and prayers are with Dr. Lesslie’s family and the Rock Hill community,” Mr Scott said.
South Carolina’s other US Senator, Lindsey Graham, has yet to publicly comment on the mass shooting.
Father of suspected gunman speaks out following mass shooting: ‘Football messed him up’
The father of a former NFL player who was suspected of shooting dead five people in South Carolina has spoken out.
Alonzo Adams, the father of Phillip Adams, said that his son shot dead five people before taking his own life on Wednesday, WCNC reports.
“I can say he’s a good kid,” Mr Adams said about his son. “I think the football messed him up.”
The York County Sheriff’s Office has yet to confirm the identity of the suspected gunman, who was revealed as Phillip Adams by the Associated Press. But the local coroner’s office said that the former football player was found dead in his father’s home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The suspected gunman was accused of killing Dr Robert Lesslie, Dr Lesslie’s wife Barbara Lesslie, 69, and the couple’s grandchildren, nine-year-old Adah Lesslie, and five-year-old Noah Lesslie. The fifth victim was named as James Lewis, 38.
“I don’t think he ever did anybody any harm,” Mr Adams said about his son, adding that he knew some of the victims. “All I can say is we pray for the family. [Dr Lesslie] used to be my doctor a long time ago. I know they were good folks down there. We’re gonna keep them in our prayers.”
Suspected gunman’s father calls him a ‘good kid’ following shooting
Alonzo Adams, the father of Phillip Adams, has spoken out following the mass shooting that took place in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
He described his son as a “good kid” while saying that the former NFL player was responsible for shooting dead five people before shooting himself.
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