ALONZO Adams – the father of the former NFL player Phillip whose accused of gunning down a doctor and his family before killing himself – believes “football messed him up”.
Phillip Adams is suspected of having killed Dr Robert Lesslie, his wife and two grand children in a horrific murder-suicide shooting in South Carolina the night of April 7.
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Alonzo spoke to WCNC about his sons horrific actions.
“I can say he’s a good kid. I think the football messed him up,” the father said.
“I don’t think he ever did anybody any harm,” Alonzo said, before saying he knew the family.
“All I can say is we pray for the family. He used to be my doctor a long time ago. I know they were good folks down there. We’re gonna keep them in our prayers.”
Alonzo revealed to the outlet that his son had recently moved to Rock Hill, South Carolina from Fort Mill.
Adams killed himself on Thursday, April 8 with a .45 caliber weapon after murdering prominent South Carolina Doctor Lesslie, his wife Barbara, their two grandkids and a house worker.
York County Sheriff spokesman Trent Faris said the suspect “lives on the same road” and according to a tweet, he was found “in a nearby house.”
During the early hours of April 8, Faris said that deputies were called around 4:45 pm on April 7 to the Lesslies’ home, and spent hours searching for the suspect before finding him in a nearby home.
The York County coroner’s office said Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, were pronounced dead at the scene along with grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5.
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 hospitalized with “serious gunshot wounds,” York County Sheriff’s Office’s spokesperson Trent Faris said.
Doctor Lesslie was well known in the Rock Hill, South Carolina area for emergency medicine and ER work.
Adams, played in 78 NFL games over five seasons for six teams. A safety and special teams player from South Carolina State, he joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick.
Adams’ father confirmed his son took his life inside the home.
A note was published onto the doctor’s Facebook page following the news of his death, providing “words that he recently wrote” before he “passed into glory.”
“One day, when I depart this body and find myself in the presence of the Lord, my time, however it will be measured, will be filled with the praises and the wonder of Jesus,” the note began.
“I know that I will once again be able to hug my mother and walk and talk with my father. There are a lot of people I want to see as well—family and friends, grandparents, some of whom I never met on this side.”
The chilling note went on to mention walking with his wife, who died alongside him, in heaven.
“We have no idea what Heaven will look like, only that it will be perfect,” he wrote.
“And because of that I know that one day, when I’ve experienced the presence and joy of that surrounding host of saints, I will find myself walking with Barbara in a field of lush, green grass, surrounded by gently rising conifer-cloaked hills.”
The post appeared to initially be published on the doctor’s blog just months ago, on December 9, 2020.
A biography page of Dr Lesslie said he and his wife of 35 years raised four children.
Lesslie has been practicing in Rock Hill since 1981, according to the Riverview website.
