Phillip Adams, the former NFL player who gunned down five people in South Carolina, including a doctor and his family, reportedly had his medication taken away by the victim before his killing spree.
Adams, 32, forced his way into Lesslie’s Rock Hill home on Wednesday, April 7, and killed the 70-year-old doctor, his wife, Barbara Lesslie, their two grandkids, ages 5 and 9.
The former defensive back also shot two air-conditioning contractors outside the doctor’s home, killing one, before turning the gun on himself.
A 45-caliber and 9mm weapon were used in the shooting, authorities said.
In an interview with WBTV News on Thursday, April 8, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said he was told by law enforcement officials that Dr. Robert Lesslie had treated Adams, and could be the potential motive behind the bloodshed.
“My understanding, he was treating him, and had, from my understanding, stopped giving him medicine, and that’s what triggered the killings,” Norman said, citing law enforcement.
Adams, 32, last played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. He was a seventh-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2010.
He then played for the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, and New York Jets.
His career was plagued by injuries, including concussions and a broken ankle.
His agent, Scott Casterline, told The Associated Press that the former defensive back “was lost without football.”
“We encouraged him to explore all of his disability options and he wouldn’t do it.
He would isolate, but that’s who he was, so it wasn’t a big concern,” Casterline said.
“I knew he was hurting and missing football, but he wouldn’t take health tips offered to him.
He said he would but he wouldn’t. I felt he was lost without football, somewhat depressed, but he was really hard to follow because he would isolate.”
