Phillip Adams, 32, a former cornerback, last played in 2015 for the Atlanta Falcons but he also had stints with the Seahawks, 49ers, Raiders and Jets during a six-year career which was marred by injuries. Former professional football player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people in Rock Hill, S.C., police said on April 8. A former NFL player who fatally shot six people before taking his own life in South Carolina this year had "unusually severe" stage 2 CTE, a brain disease linked to head injuries, a Boston . Do you have a blog? The 32-year-old gunman played in 78 NFL games over five seasons for six teams. "I have come to understand that humility may be the greatest virtue. Casterline said he spoke regularly with Adams' father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning. York County. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. There are at least eight players who hail from one of the three Rock Hill high schools who played on an NFL team last season: Stephon Gilmore, the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in. He founded two urgent care centers in the area and wrote a weekly medical column for The Charlotte Observer. The town of 75,000 people says it has turned out more NFL players per capita than any other . He and Casterline both said the gunman had opened a shop selling smoothies and juice before COVID-19 hit and emphasized he didn't drink or do drugs. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? He graduated from Rock Hill High School and starred at . The gunman's father told a Charlotte television station that he blamed football for problems that may have led his son to commit Wednesday's violence. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. With National Signing Day behind us and the 2021 college football season fast . "I feel bad for him because if it was mental or something going on in his life or whatever, you know, he needed help, and that's the sad part.". Submit your questions to Senior Writer Darin Gantt and then read his weekly mailbag of all the best queries, thought-starters and . Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Four members of the Lesslie family died when a gunman, identified to The Associated Press as former NFL cornerback Phillip Adams, opened fire at the family's home. A motive in the mass shooting has not been released by authorities. Age: 30; Teams: Cleveland Browns; Jadeveon Davarus Clowney ( j-DEV-ee-on; born February 14, 1993) is an American football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Or write about sports? Former Cowboys cornerback Kevin Smith, who trained Adams leading up to the 2010 draft and after he entered the league, said he was a hard worker. The victims included prominent local physician Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, and two of their grandchildren, 9-year-old Adah Lesslie and 5-year-old Noah Lesslie, a source close to the investigation told The Associated Press. Adams had been treated by Lesslie, who lived near his parents' home in Rock Hill, according to a person who was briefed about the investigation and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. Panthers owner David Tepper will do what he wants.Currently, he wants to walk away from the deal to build a new team headquarters and facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina. A sixth victim, Robert Shook, 38, of Cherryville, North Carolina, was flown to a Charlotte hospital, where he was in critical condition "fighting hard for his life,'' said a cousin, Heather Smith Thompson. Adams would not have been eligible for testing as part of a broad settlement between the league and its former players over such injuries, because he hadn't retired by 2014. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. However, Tolson would not confirm that Adams had been the doctor's patient. Deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday to the Lesslies' home, which is far up a driveway from an arched stone gate, and not visible from the road. 247Sports . Rock Hill, SC A former professional football player from Rock Hill is in jail after he was arrested by the FBI on heroin distribution charges, according to federal agents and court. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 29201-4761 I felt like a failure, and I didnt know what was really next, so I kind of went into a dark area.. I can't fathom it. The gunman, identified as a former NFL player, died of what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. I dont think he ever did anybody any harm.. In his freshman year with the Bulldogs, Adams saw action as a backup and on special teams.He recorded 12 tackles and two interceptions, along with a 30-yard punt . She said authorities repeatedly asked Adams to come out, and promised to get his disabled mother out safely, before Adams shot himself. In terms of producing talent and champions specifically, there is one city that has a rich history of doing so. Using television, radio, and the web, SCETV informs and connects citizens. Tolson said evidence left at the scene of the shooting led them to the gunman. Strahan asked JZaviens father, Jay Currence, When did you know he was good?, By the time he was six, he had his first, I think, like eight-touchdown season, Jay said. Vote up the top pro football players born or raised in South Carolina. 2023 South Carolina ETV Commission. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. We always prepared for him to get this much attention, Jay said. While only 17 years old, the Stallions quickly attached themselves to the thick of football success in the city. ROCK HILL, S.C. - Authorities searched for clues Thursday in the nation's latest shooting spree after police say a former NFL player gunned down five people, including a beloved doctor and . Rarely a starter, the gunman also was with New England, Seattle, Oakland and the New York Jets, finishing his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. A Rock Hill native has achieved his NFL dreams. 320 W Springdale Rd Rock Hill, SC 29730. ET April 8: The AP reported that former NFL pro Phillip Adams killed himself early Thursday following the shooting. Find out more. Adams often isolated himself, even as a player, his agent, Scott Casterline, told the Associated Press. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Contact Us April 30, 2019 9:28 AM. "I can say he's a good kid -- he was a good kid, and I think the football messed him up," Alonzo Adams told WCNC-TV. He has answers. Columbia, In his house, everything was precisely placed.". Deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday to the Lesslies' home, which is not visible from the road. It is important because it has been an avenue to help many young men acquire much success, Herron said. Do you have a blog? Rivalries have developed over the years and beating your cross-town opponents has become important to the teams, players, and alumni, Wofford said. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The gunman would not have been eligible for testing as part of a broad settlement between the league and its former players over such injuries because he hadn't retired by 2014. Subscribe to our Free Email Newsletter. Once people realize that football is 90% mental, 10% physical, theyll understand how important a mental health piece is to the football piece, Jibrille said. And I am convinced we need to take the time to say the things we deeply feel to the people we deeply care about.". Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Updated December 01, 2021 1:03 PM. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He played 78 games in his six-year career, according to a pro football reference website. Living near Rock Hill, a community billed as "Football City USA," that dream would become a reality. Adams, 32, was born on July 20, 1988 in Rock Hill. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Lesslie founded two urgent care centers, wrote a weekly medical column for The Charlotte Observer and became a prolific author, writing several volumes with advice on how to lower cholesterol or blood pressure and lose weight. A fifth victim, maintenance worker James Lewis, 38, of Gastonia, was fatally shot outside the home, according to the York County Sheriffs Office. Here are the best NFL players of all-time from the Palmetto State. Do you have a blog? A man who had been working at the home, James Lewis, 38, from Gaston, was found shot to death outside. With great teams come skillful players and the Bearcats have produced their fair share of theirs throughout the years, including Gerald Dixon, Tori Gurley, Johnathan Hefney, Chris Hope, and Johnathan Meeks. Heading toward the mountains? Or write about sports? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. A sixth person, a second worker at the home who was not immediately identified, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, sources told The Herald. It's devastating for the victims and the families," Casterline said. Lesslie had worked for decades as an emergency room doctor in Rock Hill, board-certified in both emergency medicine and occupational medicine and serving as emergency department medical director for nearly 15 years at Rock Hill General Hospital, according to his website. Adams played for Rock Hill High School before enrolling at S.C. State University, where he played four years. ROCK HILL, S.C. Former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people, including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before killing himself early Thursday. In 2010, Adams became the first S.C. State player to be drafted to the NFL in a decade . Football [in Rock Hill] brings the different communities together on Friday nights and throughout the year like no other event. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. This is so unlike him. Here are South Carolinas best Midlands restaurants, Traveling to the coast? Johnathan Joseph, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Benjamin Watson are additional players who have had long careers in the NFL. Rock Hill (Rock Hill, SC) NFL Player Stats. ROCK HILL, S.C. An autopsy revealed unusually severe brain disease in the frontal lobe of the former NFL player accused of fatally shooting six people in Rock Hill before killing. A biography page said he and his wife raised four children and that Lesslie received his degree at the Medical University of South Carolina. "Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it's an international embarrassment," Mr. Biden said. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. As a rookie late in the 2010 season, the gunman suffered a severe ankle injury that required surgery that included several screws being inserted into the leg. Two years earlier, a broken left ankle cut short his rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers, according to the report. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Popular: Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Aaron Donald, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Odell Beckham Jr., J.J. Watt, Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Todd Gurley . ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) Former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people, including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before killing himself early Thursday. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. Adams' parents live near the Lesslie family home in Rock Hill and the former NFL pro had been previously treated by the doctor, a source told the Associated Press.