SC - 5 dead, inc. Dr Robert Lesslie & 2 children in shooting, Rock Hill, Apr 2021

[scdiv]

‘I keep expecting to wake up’: HVAC tech, father of 3 killed in SC mass shooting

‘I keep expecting to wake up’: HVAC tech, father of 3 killed in SC mass shooting

 

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https://twitter.com/kenlemonWSOC9/status/1380239442783436800
Ken
@kenlemonWSOC9

The next day is critical for Robert Shook of Cherryville, the survivor of a mass shooting in York County, SC that killed 5 including his coworker. They were working on the AC unit at the home when investigators say a neighbor killed the woman & man there & their 2 grandchildren.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Our.... the charges were uhmm.... "reconsidered".

I imagine the ability of College teams to have this influence is declining in the face of social media which makes special considerations harder to obtain.

But... my guess is that police considerations of collegiate star athletes before social media could be more, well.... "discreet" in some cases.

SCDIV, any insights regarding how influential colleges were back then regarding wayward athletes and police matters?

<modsnip - off topic>

I fully understand the murderer's family believing his football days, and possible injuries made him do this. However, we don't have any verified evidence that I have seen that is the reason why he committed mass murder of an entire family. And another victim who was only there to repair their ac plus trying to murder another, and may windup doing it if the gentlemen doesn't survive.

Over the years I've lost count of how many family members have said in the media the murderer was mentally ill only for it to turnout to not be true when they were tried for the murders. Of course this one killed himself so we will never really know.

At this stage I'm not going to just assume his past football injuries made him become a mass murderer.

<modsnip - rumor>

I've read conflicting information. Some news outlets are reporting he had been treated by the doctor while others are reporting the police can't find anything showing he was ever treated by this beloved doctor.

I suppose that's become quite common when the story is still in its infant stage.

Hopefully more verifiable information will come forth the further along the investigation goes.

Do you know if they are planning a PC this afternoon or in the morning? TIA!

imo

 

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https://twitter.com/kenlemonWSOC9/status/1380174050685812739

“He was my best friend” I’m talking to Tom Lewis the father of the Gastonia technician killed in a mass shooting at a home outside of Rock Hill. James Lewis was there working on the AC when a gunman killed the family at the home and Lewis, then critically injured Lewis’ coworker

 

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South Carolina sheriff emotional recalling doctor, family slain by ex-NFL cornerback Phillip Adams

South Carolina sheriff emotional recalling doctor, family slain by ex-NFL cornerback Phillip Adams

 

[PrairieWind]

‘I keep expecting to wake up’: HVAC tech, father of 3 killed in SC mass shooting

‘I keep expecting to wake up’: HVAC tech, father of 3 killed in SC mass shooting

Oh God, single father of three! Can this get any worse?

 

[stmarysmead]

*Below is a personal statement from the Lesslie family.*
"The four Lesslie siblings wrote this statement: On behalf of the Lesslie, Alexander, and Kulbok clans, we would like to address the outpouring of heartbreak, shock, grief, and support from our family, friends, and community.
We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. The losses we are suffering cannot be uttered at this time.
While we know there are no answers that will satisfy the question “why,” we are sure of one thing: we do not grieve as those without hope. Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ, and we are enveloped by peace that surpasses all understanding. To that end, our hearts are bent toward forgiveness and peace. Toward love and connectedness. Toward celebration and unity. We honor all of those involved in this story with prayers and compassion specifically for the Shook family, the Lewis family, and the Adams family.
As Robert Lesslie would say, when peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well with my soul.
If you would like to do something for the family,
Adah and Noah would want you to stock the free pantries and libraries in your community.
Barbara and Robert would want you to be good stewards of what you are given, leaving every place better than it was before you got there.
Adah, Noah, Barbara, Robert, and the rest of the family would ask any memorials or gifts to be sent to Camp Joy North Carolina (918 South Pleasantburg Dr., Greenville, SC 29607) in honor of hope and the promise of eternity.
-The Lesslie, Alexander, and Kulbok Families
April 8, 2021."

 

[stmarysmead]

Reporter Ken Lemon spoke to Lewis’ parents Thursday morning, who said he is their only child and that he is a single father of three children.


Tom Lewis and Linda Tucker said their son went to school to become a HVAC technician to earn a better living for his children. They said they can’t believe he was killed doing the job he loved, making a living for the family he adored.

“I keep on expecting to wake up, ‘Oh, it was just a bad dream,’ but it’s not. It’s real,” Tom Lewis said. “I would like to find out why this guy did what he did. I would like a lot more than that at times.”

 

[fred&edna]

*Below is a personal statement from the Lesslie family.*
"The four Lesslie siblings wrote this statement: On behalf of the Lesslie, Alexander, and Kulbok clans, we would like to address the outpouring of heartbreak, shock, grief, and support from our family, friends, and community.
We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. The losses we are suffering cannot be uttered at this time.
While we know there are no answers that will satisfy the question “why,” we are sure of one thing: we do not grieve as those without hope. Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ, and we are enveloped by peace that surpasses all understanding. To that end, our hearts are bent toward forgiveness and peace. Toward love and connectedness. Toward celebration and unity. We honor all of those involved in this story with prayers and compassion specifically for the Shook family, the Lewis family, and the Adams family.
As Robert Lesslie would say, when peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well with my soul.
If you would like to do something for the family,
Adah and Noah would want you to stock the free pantries and libraries in your community.
Barbara and Robert would want you to be good stewards of what you are given, leaving every place better than it was before you got there.
Adah, Noah, Barbara, Robert, and the rest of the family would ask any memorials or gifts to be sent to Camp Joy North Carolina (918 South Pleasantburg Dr., Greenville, SC 29607) in honor of hope and the promise of eternity.
-The Lesslie, Alexander, and Kulbok Families
April 8, 2021."

Amazingly gracious family.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

http://www.robertlesslie.com/pdf/chapter1.pdf

 

[stmarysmead]

A lot of new information coming out ...including:

NEW: @RepRalphNorman tells me his understanding is that Dr. Robert Lesslie was treating Phillip Adams and had stopped giving Adams medication - he says he was told that triggered the killings - Norman says he was told this by law enforcement. @WBTV_News

Five including doctor and two children shot dead in South Carolina before police arrest suspect | Daily Mail Online


Alonso said officers came to his house on Wednesday night and led him and his severely disabled wife out of the residence, where Adams killed himself.

Allison Hope, who lives across from the Adams’ modest one-story brick home, about a quarter of a mile down the road from the Lesslies, said police allowed her to return home around 9pm Wednesday. Moments later, a vehicle pulled into their driveway and law enforcement quickly surrounded the property.

She said they spent hours negotiating with Adams, using a loudspeaker and sending in a robot to scan the house. She said authorities repeatedly asked Adams to come out, and promised to get his disabled mother out safely, before Adams shot himself.

 

[PrairieWind]

A lot of new information coming out ...including:

NEW: @RepRalphNorman tells me his understanding is that Dr. Robert Lesslie was treating Phillip Adams and had stopped giving Adams medication - he says he was told that triggered the killings - Norman says he was told this by law enforcement. @WBTV_News

I wondered if something like this was going to be the trigger.

 

[Cryptic]

It's very possible that in college towns (and we are talking SEC football in the south here), you may have local law enforcement be diehard team fans and could they give preference, or overlook things or be a little more forgiving? It wouldn't surprise me.

But that would be more realistic to me than say Steve Spurrier (the head football coach at the time) or school administrators wielding real influence over a police department. All imo.

What I will say is that NFL team scouts ABSOLUTELY have all info on what actually happened

Thanks again for your great insights.

It makes perfect sense that possible "re-assessment" of assault charges would very likely be derived from being in the right town where college football or say, basketball is legendary. Then mix in sports fan police making a spontaneous decision on their own rather than the coach having enough pull to request it.

I also like the point about teams scouts truly knowing and Hannibal Lector dining habits being excused- if he had the right sprint times.

NEW: @RepRalphNorman tells me his understanding is that Dr. Robert Lesslie was treating Phillip Adams and had stopped giving Adams medication - he says he was told that triggered the killings - Norman says he was told this by law enforcement. @WBTV_News

That is awful. I can momentary understand anger at being "cut off" regarding say, prescription pain pills. I cant, however, understand any desperation from it.

There are plenty of doctors running shady "pain clinics" where opoid prescriptions are fast, easy and... well, painless (sadly, a friend of mine is a customer at such a "clinic" for years.)

In short, my guess is that Adams, if cut off by the victim, could easily have found an unethical alternative source. Thus, being cut off from pain pills does not seem to be a likely motive.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

*Below is a personal statement from the Lesslie family.*
"The four Lesslie siblings wrote this statement: On behalf of the Lesslie, Alexander, and Kulbok clans, we would like to address the outpouring of heartbreak, shock, grief, and support from our family, friends, and community.
We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. The losses we are suffering cannot be uttered at this time.
While we know there are no answers that will satisfy the question “why,” we are sure of one thing: we do not grieve as those without hope. Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ, and we are enveloped by peace that surpasses all understanding. To that end, our hearts are bent toward forgiveness and peace. Toward love and connectedness. Toward celebration and unity. We honor all of those involved in this story with prayers and compassion specifically for the Shook family, the Lewis family, and the Adams family.
As Robert Lesslie would say, when peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well with my soul.
If you would like to do something for the family,
Adah and Noah would want you to stock the free pantries and libraries in your community.
Barbara and Robert would want you to be good stewards of what you are given, leaving every place better than it was before you got there.
Adah, Noah, Barbara, Robert, and the rest of the family would ask any memorials or gifts to be sent to Camp Joy North Carolina (918 South Pleasantburg Dr., Greenville, SC 29607) in honor of hope and the promise of eternity.
-The Lesslie, Alexander, and Kulbok Families
April 8, 2021."

Amen

 

[Boodles]

I’m so curious about how LE was able to extract the killer’s parents from their home, safely. That must have been a very tense situation.

I can’t believe how gracious the Lesslie family members are in their statement. Their faith must be incredible.

 

[stmarysmead]

So he killed those little children and two men there, fixing the AC, just trying to earn a living...because he couldn’t get his way. Was he trying to earn a living...or living off his parents? How hooked was he? And if his ‘need’ was so desperate, then I must ask...where were his parents? Blaming this all on football, no longer is resonating quite as strongly with me. He was living at their home. He must either have an addiction problem that was overwhelming and obvious, or anger issues that didn’t start yesterday.

 

[Jsizzle]

This. Is. Horrific. I can’t even wrap my beard around losing my entire family.....especially my children. Wow. I don’t really care how “sick” he may have been. This is heartless and I hope he rots in Hell.

 

[PrairieWind]

Lots of questions about what led up to this.

 

[PrairieWind]

I hope someone sets up a fund for the children of that HVAC worker.

 

[Gibbo214]

<modsnip>

I fully understand the murderer's family believing his football days, and possible injuries made him do this. However, we don't have any verified evidence that I have seen that is the reason why he committed mass murder of an entire family. And another victim who was only there to repair their ac plus trying to murder another, and may windup doing it if the gentlemen doesn't survive.

Over the years I've lost count of how many family members have said in the media the murderer was mentally ill only for it to turnout to not be true when they were tried for the murders. Of course this one killed himself so we will never really know.

At this stage I'm not going to just assume his past football injuries made him become a mass murderer.

<modsnip>

I've read conflicting information. Some news outlets are reporting he had been treated by the doctor while others are reporting the police can't find anything showing he was ever treated by this beloved doctor.

I suppose that's become quite common when the story is still in its infant stage.

Hopefully more verifiable information will come forth the further along the investigation goes.

Do you know if they are planning a PC this afternoon or in the morning? TIA!

imo

BBM. This is not about mental illness. It is about brain damage from repeated concussions. It is a well known phenomenon.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
It is observable at autopsy if his cranium is not too damaged by the suicide.