Former NFL cornerback Philip Adams killed five people and later died of a self inflicted gunshot in Rock Hill, South Carolina on April 7. He shot six people, including two children, with 45. Caliber AND 9mm handguns with no apparent motive. 

Adams stormed into the home of Dr. Robert Lesslie, a doctor well known throughout Rock Hill. He proceeded to shoot Lesslie, 70, his wife Barbara, 69, and their two grandchildren. To clarify, the children were nine and five years old. Moreover, two air conditioning technicians were shot outside the family home; one of which dies. Afterwards, the sole survivor of the attack called his superiors who in turn alerted the authorities. He is now in critical condition.

When first responders arrived, evidence of Adams’s presence was found. The police found him a quarter of a mile away in his own home. Meanwhile, he shot himself with the 45 in the head and was found dead after not responding to law enforcement’s orders to come out of his home. 

Adams lived most in life in Rock Hill. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2010 Draft from South Carolina State to the San Francisco 49’rs. Adams only spent a single season with them and was traded to multiple teams. He broke his ankle and sustained two major concussions before leaving professional football. 

According to Adams father, Alonzo Adams, he had CTE, a traumatic brain injury. Moreover, Adam’s said his son had a habit of self isolating. He said, “I can say he’s a good kid – he was a good kid, and I think the football messed him up…”