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.
Press conference to start soon with police
Investigators with the York County Sheriff’s Department will soon hold a press conference to update the public about the mass shooting that took place in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The identity of the suspected gunman has yet to be revealed by investigators, but it was expected they might name the suspect during the press conference. Former NFL player Phillip Adams was identified by the Associated Press as the suspected gunman.
Investigators have yet to reveal motive as well.
The investigation is currently ongoing into the shooting that occurred overnight on Wednesday.
Investigators share two 911 calls from mass shooting
The York County Sheriff’s Department started its press conference on Thursday with two 911 calls that happened around 4:44pm local time on Wednesday during the mass shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The second phone call came from a nearby neighbor who was cutting his grass at the time of the shooting.
“I think maybe four people .. I was cutting grass out in the yard and I heard shots … about 20 … it was automatic,” the anonymous caller told the 911 operator.
This caller then identified a “black guy in black clothes” who “walked away from the house” after the shooting.
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said that deputies arrived at the house about eight minutes following the two 911 calls.
Police confirm suspected gunman as Phillip Adams
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson confirmed the identity of the suspected gunman as former NFL player Phillip Adams on Thursday during a press conference.
“Once the investigation began we were able to develop Phillip Adams as a suspect in this incident,” Mr Tolson said.
There was a standoff between deputies and Mr Adams’ parents home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, once it was determined that he was the suspected gunman. Deputies were able to safely remove Mr Adams’ father and mother from the house, Mr Tolson said.
Then at about 2am local time on Thursday morning, Mr Tolson said that the former NFL player was killed with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
“We did not hear any gunshots once we arrived,” Mr Tolson said when asked about when Mr Adams likely shot himself.
Reports have indicated that Mr Adams was potentially a patient of Dr Robert Lesslie, who was one of the five victims in the mass shooting. But Mr Tolson said investigators had no indication yet that Mr Adams was previously a patient to Dr Lesslie.
Phillip Adams ‘lived close’ to victims, police say
“We learned that Phillip Adams lived close” to the victims, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said during a press conference on Thursday.
Mr Adams reportedly grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
He was found in his parents home early Thursday morning following a shooting at a renowned doctor’s residence on Wednesday afternoon.
Police found Mr Adams dead in the home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Alonzo Adams, the former NFL player’s father, told a local publication on Thursday that he knew Dr Robert Lesslie, who was one of the victims in the shooting, and was previously a patient of the doctor.
Deputies share 911 calls neighbors made during Rock Hill shooting
A pair of 911 calls that were made during the Rock Hill, South Carolina mass shooting were shared by law enforcement officers during a press briefing on the tragic attack that left five dead and one injured, writes Graig Graziosi.
The York County Sheriff's Department began a Thursday press conference with the calls, which were made around 4:44pm local time as gunman Philip Adams reportedly attacked Dr Robert Lesslie and his wife Barbara, as well as their two young grandchildren and a pair of maintenance workers at their home.
One of those workers, James Lewis, was killed.
Investigators yet to determine motive of South Carolina shooting
The York County Sheriff's Department held a press conference on Thursday to further provide information about a mass shooting that took place in Rock Hill, South Carolina, but investigators could not reveal a motive.
"There's nothing right now that makes sense to any of us," said York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson.
Phillip Adams, who previously played in the NFL, was identified as the gunman in the shooting that left five people dead. A sixth victim was currently in the hospital for severe gunshot wounds.
During the press conference, investigators revealed that they identified Mr Adams as the suspected shooter on Wednesday and then went to his parents' home, which was near the location of the shooting.
Deputies removed Mr Adams' parents from the home before finding the former NFL player dead in a room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Dr Robert Lesslie described as ‘pillar’ of Rock Hill community
Dr Robert Lesslie, 70, was one of the five victims identified in the Rock Hill, South Carolina shooting that took place on Wednesday.
The renowned doctor was well known in the town, which has about 67,000 residents.
“Dr Lesslie was a pillar in this community,” said Kevin Tolson, the York County sheriff. “He had treated me in the past in his clinic. He was very involved with law enforcement with providing space for the SANE nurses to do sexual assault exams on sexual assault victims, very involved in that.”
“We tend to canonize and eulogize folks and that kinda waters it down, but I would not want to water down anything that Dr Lesslie did for this community,” Mr Tolson added. “He knew everyone, he treated everyone with respect. And if you reflect on the family’s statement, that is the type of that Dr. Lesslie raised because that is the type of man that he was.”
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.
Watch the sheriff’s department press conference
In case you missed it, watch the York County Sheriff’s Department’s press conference on Thursday regarding the mass shooting in South Carolina.
Doctor penned essay prior to being shot dead
Dr Robert Lesslie, one of the victims in the South Carolina shooting, previously penned an essay that described heaven as a “perfect” place where he would stroll through with his wife.
“One day, when I depart this body and find myself in the presence of the Lord, my time, however it will be measured, will be filled with the praises and the wonder of Jesus,” Dr Lesslie, 70, wrote, according to the New York Post.
“I know that I will once again be able to hug my mother and walk and talk with my father. There are a lot of people I want to see as well – family and friends, grandparents, some of whom I never met on this side,” he added.
The post went on to acknowledge Jesus as well as disciples Peter and John before Dr Lesslie went on to describe how he imagined heaven.
“We have no idea what Heaven will look like, only that it will be perfect,” he wrote.
“And because of that I know that one day, when I’ve experienced the presence and joy of that surrounding host of saints, I will find myself walking with Barbara in a field of lush, green grass, surrounded by gently rising conifer-cloaked hills,” the post continued.
Dr Lesslie was referencing his wife, 69, who was also killed on Wednesday during the shooting.
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson described Dr Lesslie as a “pillar” of the small community, which has about 67,00 residents.
The couple’s grandchildren, nine-year-old Adah Lesslie, and five-year-old Noah Lesslie, were also killed on Wednesday. The fifth victim was named as James Lewis, 38.
Who is Dr Robert Lesslie?
Dr Robert Lesslie was one of the five victims killed in a shooting that took place in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Wednesday.
The renowned doctor was well-known in the community for his work.
Dr Lesslie, 70, was the medical director and founder of Riverview Hospice and Palliative Care in Rock Hill. According to the website, the doctor has been practicing in the town since 1981.
He received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Then in 1999, Dr Lesslie earned his master’s degree in public health at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Prior to starting his own practice, Dr Lesslie worked as the chief resident at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in North Carolina.
“Dr. Lesslie is board-certified in emergency medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine,” according to his bio. “He is a certified Medical Review Officer for drug and alcohol testing and a Certified Medical Examiner for the Department of Transportation. For more than a decade, he has been writing newspaper and magazine columns and human-interest stories.”
Dr Lesslie was married to Barbara Lesslie, 69. The couple lived in a home in Rock Hill with their dog named Moses and several farm animals, including mini horses and donkeys.
The couple had four children, all grown, and eight grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren, nine-year-old Adah Lesslie and five-year-old Noah Lesslie, as well as Dr Lesslie’s wife were also killed on Wednesday.
“He enjoys golfing, traveling and bagpiping. He is a regular columnist for YC magazine, an active member of his church, as well as an accomplished author. His series of books offer hope and wisdom for his readers’ overall health and well being based on his years of experience in the field of medicine,” according to Dr Lesslie’s bio.
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson described Dr Lesslie as a “pillar” to the Rock Hill community who knew a majority of residents in the town.
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