SC mass shooter was former NFL player, killed doctor, wife, 2 young children

Shore News Network

ROCK HILL, SC – Former NFL football player Philip Adams has been identified as the suspect of a mass shooting in South Carolina where he killed a beloved community doctor, his wife, and their two grandchildren. He later killed himself in a home nearby.

A doctor, his wife, and their two grandchildren were found shot dead inside his home Wednesday night by a suspect believed to have been a black male wearing camo pants, who fled the scene. The incident happened in Rock Hill, which is about 40 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Adams shot and killed Dr. Robert Leslie, 70 and his wife Barbara, 69. Philips also shot and killed the couple’s two grandchildren Adah, 9 and Noah 5. Another man, 38-year-old James Lewis, who was working at the home was also shot and killed. A sixth person remains hospitalized in serious condition.


At 4:45 PM deputies were sent to a home near 4400 Marshall Rd. reference a report of a shooting involving multiple individuals. The York County Sheriff’s Office had alerted the community that they were searching for a young black male wearing a hoodie & camo pants.

In all, 5 were dead in this latest mass shooting. Police canvassed the neighborhood with K-9s and drones to find Philips. He was later found dead inside his home.

“Sadly 5 people have died as a result of the shooting. Dr. Robert Lesslie & his wife, Barbara Lesslie were both found in the home & died as a result of gunshot wounds, as well as their 2 grandchildren. James Lewis of Gastonia, was working at the home & died from gunshot wounds,” said York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson.

“We have identified 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. Detectives are still in the area serving a search warrant & investigating this tragic event,” Tolson said.

Adams played in the NFL as a cornerback between 2010 and 2015 seeing stints with the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons.

At this time there, no motive for the mass murder have been released by authorities.

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