Ex-NFL player gunned down five people before shooting himself

GUNMAN who killed five people including a prominent doctor in the US state of South Carolina was a former NFL player Phillip Adams, who also killed himself early yesterday.

A source said Adams’ parents live near the doctor’s home in Rock Hill, and that he had been treated by the doctor.

The source said Adams killed himself after midnight with a .45 calibre weapon.

The York County Sheriff’s Office said they had searched for hours before finding the suspect in a nearby home.

Adams played as a defensive back for multiple teams including the 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons after starring at South Carolina State.

He also suffered multiple injuries in the NFL, including concussions and a broken left ankle.

The York County coroner’s office said Dr Robert Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, were pronounced dead at the scene along with grandchildren Adah Lesslie, nine, and Noah Lesslie, five.

A man who had been working at the home, James Lewis, 38, from Gaston, was found shot to death outside, and a sixth person was taken to hospital with “serious gunshot wounds”, York County Sheriff ’s Office’s spokesperson Trent Faris said.

Mr Faris said deputies were called around 4.45pm on Wednesday to the Lesslies’ home, and spent hours searching for the suspect.

“We have found the person we believe is responsible and we are with him at this time and that’s all I can say about the suspect,” Mr Faris said.

Dr Lesslie had been practising medicine in Rock Hill since 1981, according to the Riverview website. He received his degree at the Medical University of South Carolina and has worked in the surrounding Rock Hill area and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rock Hill is a city in northernmost South Carolina.