Mass shooting ex-NFL player s brain probed for trauma-related harm
The brain of Phillip Adams â the former NFL player who killed a South Carolina physician, three family members and a repairman before fatally shooting himself â will be tested for a degenerative disease that has affected a number of pro athletes and has been shown to cause violent mood swings and other cognitive disorders, according to a news report.
York County Coroner Sabrina Gast told McClatchy Newspapers on Friday that she had gotten approval from Adams family for the procedure to be included as part of his autopsy, which will be performed at the Medical University of South Carolina. The hospital will be working with Boston University, whose chronic traumatic encephalopathy center conducts research on the long-term effects of repetitive brain trauma in athletes and military personnel, according to its website.
Former NFL player Phillip Adams killed five people - including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two young grandchildren - at the physician s South Carolina home before taking his own life in his own family s home nearby. Investigators believe Adams, 32, forced his way into Dr Robert Lesslie s home in Rock Hill yesterday and shot Dr Lesslie, his wife and the two grandchildren in a room, as well as two air conditioning technicians outside, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said. Killed were Dr Lesslie, his wife Barbara Lesslie, two grandchildren ages five and nine, and air conditioning technician James Lewis, of Gastonia, North Carolina, authorities said.
To know the Lesslie family is to love them Prominent doctor, wife and two grandchildren killed in York Co ksla.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ksla.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated: Apr 9 2021, 12:16 ET
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A FORMER teammate of Phillip Adams who fatally gunned down a doctor and his family urged NFL players to reach out to him if they need to talk,
Brandon Spikes, a former linebacker with the New England Patriots who played alongside Adams in 2011, took to Twitter on Thursday after the mass shooting in South Carolina.
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Brandon Spikes urged NFL players to reach out to him if they need to talk after Phillip Adams shot 5 people Credit: Getty
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Dr Robert Lesslie and his wife via FacebookCredit: Facebook Omg so sad, he wrote. I remember buddy in the locker room This why i do my best 2 check on my people when i can. Teammates don’t hesitate to hit my line if u need to talk it’s been the same since 7th grade.