Yesterday afternoon, a tragic mass shooting occurred just south of Charlotte in York County which left 6 people dead, including the shooter, and another person injured.
According to the York County Sheriff’s Department, someone entered the home of renowned emergency room Doctor Robert Lesslie and shot Dr. Lesslie, as his wife, Barbara Lesslie, his 2 grandchildren, Gastonia resident James Lewis, and another unnamed person.
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
— YCSO_SC (@YCSO_SC) April 8, 2021
UPDATE: We have IDed 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. #YCSONews
— YCSO_SC (@YCSO_SC) April 8, 2021
The shooter is believed to be 32-year-old former NFL player Phillip Adams.
Adams played football at Rock Hill High School, graduated from South Carolina State University, then played for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets between 2010 and 2017.
After Adams shot Dr. Lesslie and his family, he escaped to a nearby home. When police arrived and surrounded the home, Adams shot and killed himself.
The unnamed person who was shot in the home yesterday is believed to be an employee of GSM Services. He was working with Gastonia resident James Lewis when the shooting occurred.
GSM shared their condolences via Facebook:
We will update this article when more information is released.