Former NFL player killed five people last night in South Carolina, including two young grandchildren

A former NFL pro, who played for both the 49ers and the Raiders in the last decade, killed a family of four and a groundskeeper before killing himself:

The family was that of a doctor, his wife, and his two young grandchildren ages 9 and 5. Here’s more on the mass shooting:

WFTV – The gunman who killed five people including a prominent doctor in South Carolina 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. The source said Phillips killed himself after midnight with a .45 caliber weapon.

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.

A man who had been working at the home, James Lewis, 38, from Gaston, was found shot to death outside, and a sixth person was hospitalized with “serious gunshot wounds,” York County Sheriff’s Office’s spokesperson Trent Faris said.

Faris said deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday to the Lesslies’ home in the Rock Hill area, and spent hours searching for the suspect before finding him in a nearby home.

“We have 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,” Faris said.

I can’t imagine what could motivate such a heinous shooting and so far police aren’t speaking about motives. The only thing we know at this point is that this doctor had Adams as a patient before and Adams lived near the doctor.

This story is getting a little play in the media, but had the races been reversed, it would be getting much, much more, as you well know.


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