January 28, 2025 • 22 mins
The tragic story of Philip Adams, a former NFL player, serves as a poignant reminder of the hidden consequences of sports injuries, particularly in relation to mental health and brain trauma. On April 7, 2021, the small community of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was rocked by a horrific shooting that left six people dead, including respected physician Dr. Robert Leslie and his family. As the events unfolded, it became clear that Adams, once a celebrated athlete, had suffered from severe mental health issues attributed to repeated concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This episode delves into how a promising sports career transformed into a tale of tragic decline, ultimately leading to a violent outburst that shocked a community.
Through an exploration of Adams' life, the podcast highlights the stark contrast between his past as a hardworking and respected player and his later struggles with mental illness. It discusses the pressures athletes face to return to the game after head injuries and how these pressures can lead to devastating consequences. The story is not just about Adams; it also focuses on the lives of those he affected, shedding light on the legacies of Dr. Leslie and his family, who were beloved in their community. Their kindness and dedication to service were evident through their actions, leaving a profound impact that continues to be felt even after their tragic deaths.
Listeners are invited to reflect on the broader implications of sports culture, mental health, and the urgent need for a more compassionate approach to athlete care. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs of mental distress and the need for systemic changes in how we address concussions and their aftermath in professional sports. Ultimately, it stitches together a narrative that is as much about community healing as it is about the personal battles faced by those like Philip Adams.
- APNews: "Authorities: NFL player Phillip Adams killed 5, then himself"
- BU CTE Center: Ex-NFL player Phillip Adams had stage 2 CTE when he killed six people in April - Concussion Legacy Foundation
- Ex-NFL player Phillip Adams who killed 6 people had CTE, doctors say : NPR
- NBCNews.com: Former NFL player Phillip Adams had CTE at time of South Carolina rampage that killed 6, officials reveal
- One year later: Families remember Rock Hill shooting victims | wcnc.com
- Phillip Adams (American football) - Wikipedia
- Police report reveals no clear motive for shooting involving ex-NFL player Phillip Adams - ESPN
- New York Times: "The Mystery of Why a Foundering Football Player Killed a Family"
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Foreign welcome to Fangirl Crime.
I'm Judy and what I'm about totell you is the story of how a six
year NFL veteran's strugglewith brain trauma led to an unthinkable
tragedy in 2021.
Former defensive back PhilipAdams shocked a small South Carolina
community and the entiresports world.
(00:22):
Today we'll explore howrepeated concussions and CTE might
have transformed aprofessional athlete into someone
his own family barely recognized.
But before we dive in, I needto warn you this episode contains
discussions of violence,suicide and mental health issues
that might be difficult forsome listeners.
Please take care of yourself first.
(00:46):
It's April 7, 2021 in RockHill, South Carolina.
The clock reads 4:45pm When a911 dispatcher receives a call that
will haunt her for the rest of her.
On the other end is 38 yearold Robert Shook, an H VAC technician
who's been mortally wounded.
Despite his injuries, hemanages to stay eerily calm, giving
(01:10):
clear directions to theaddress where he and his co worker
have been shot.
When first responders arriveat the home of Dr.
Robert Leslie, they discover ascene so horrific that even veteran
officers struggle to process it.
Inside, they find six victimsof a brutal attack.
Dr.
Leslie, his wife Barbara,their two grandchildren, 9 year old
(01:32):
Ada and 5 year old Noah andJames Lewis, Robert Shook's 38 year
old coworker, are already dead.
Shook, who made thatincredible 911 call, will fight for
his life, but ultimatelysuccumb to his injuries.
Three days later, the shooter,a former NFL defensive back named
Philip Adams.
(01:53):
But y'all, this isn't yourtypical story of an athlete who lost
his way.
This is about something muchdarker, much more complex, and honestly,
much more terrifying.
Because to understand whathappened that April day, we need
to understand how a respectedathlete, a hometown hero, transformed
into someone his own familycouldn't even recognize.
(02:17):
Y'all, today we're going toRock Hill, South Carolina.
And if you follow footballdeeply, you probably know Rock Hill
as Football City, USA.
But after April 7, 2021, thistight knit community of 75,000 people
would become known forsomething far darker.
But before I tell you whathappened that day, I need you to
(02:39):
understand who Dr.
Robert Leslie was to this community.
Because if you talk to anyonein Rock Hill, they'll tell you that
if Philip Adams was one oftheir football success stories, Dr.
Leslie was their healing hands.
For over 40 years, Dr.
Leslie wasn't just any doctor.
He was the doctor thateveryone in Rock Hill trusted.
(03:02):
He kept this little notebookwhere he'd Write down details about
his patients, their kidsnames, their hobbies, their worries.
During COVID he personallycalled elderly patients just to check
on them.
Y'all, this is the kind ofdoctor who would actually remember
your name when you came in.
His wife, Barbara, she matchedhim in every way when it came to
(03:25):
serving their community.
She was this amazing formerteacher who ran this incredible youth
literacy program at their church.
And get this, she had thismassive vegetable garden and she
would personally deliver freshproduce to elderly neighbors and
families in need.
And their grandkids, 9 yearold Ada and 5 year old Noah, were
(03:46):
these bright lights in the community.
Ada was already following inher grandmother's footsteps, helping
with that garden and showingthis amazing talent for growing sunflowers.
Noah, at just five years old,he was already telling everyone he
wanted to be a doctor, justlike papa.
Now, let me tell you aboutPhilip Adams, because this isn't
(04:09):
your typical story of anathlete gone wrong.
Growing up in Rock Hill,everyone knew Philip as this respectful,
hard working kid.
His high school coaches, theyall remember him as being incredibly
coachable and dedicated.
In 2010, the San Francisco49ers selected Adams in the seventh
round of the NFL Draft.
(04:31):
While not a first round pick,making it to the NFL at all was a
dream come true for the kidfrom Rock Hill.
His father, Alonzo Adams,later recalled how proud the family
was on draft day.
They believed Philip wasliving proof that hard work and determination
could make dreams reality.
Adams NFL career was whatscouts called journeyman, steady
(04:53):
but not spectacular.
Over six seasons, he playedfor six different teams.
The 49ers, Patriots, Raiders,Seat, Seahawks, jets, and finally
the Falcons.
He appeared in 78 games,recording 128 tackles and five interceptions.
But it's what happened duringthose games that would later prove
(05:14):
crucial to understanding this case.
In 2012, while playing for theRaiders, Adams suffered two concussions
within three games.
This was during a transitionalperiod in the NFL's approach to head
injuries.
The league had implemented itsfirst concussion protocols in 2009,
but they weren't nearly ascomprehensive as today's standards.
(05:37):
Players often felt pressure toshake it off and get back on the
field.
Former teammates startednoticing changes in Adams after these
injuries.
The quiet, respectful playerbecame increasingly withdrawn.
He struggled with insomnia andcomplained of severe headaches.
One teammate speakinganonymously after the tragedy, recalled
(05:59):
Adams becoming paranoid aboutpeople's intentions and struggling
to maintain close relationships.
After retiring from the NFL in2016, Adams's behavior became increasingly
erratic.
He filed for disabilitybenefits, citing short term memory
loss, depression and anxiety.
That made it impossible tohold a job despite his NFL career.
(06:23):
He moved back in with hisfather in Rock Hill, where his mental
state continued to deteriorate.
And y'all, this is wherethings get really dark.
Because on April 7, 2021, Dr.
Leslie was seeing patients athis clinic just like any other Wednesday.
Barbara was at home with Adaand Noah, who were visiting during
(06:44):
their spring break.
And there were these two H VACtechnicians at the house.
James Lewis and Robert Shook,just doing routine work on the air
conditioning system.
James Lewis was 38, thisamazing single dad of three young
kids.
He coached his son's baseballteam and had just started college
funds for his daughters.
(07:04):
Robert Shook, also 38, wasmarried with three kids of his own.
He was known for never turningdown an overtime shift if it meant
providing better opportunitiesfor his family.
Now, over at Philip Adamshouse, things were different.
In the months leading up tothis day, people who knew him had
noticed some seriouslyconcerning changes.
(07:25):
He'd been living with hisfather in this modest home less than
a mile from the Leslie's.
But his life was nothing likehis NFL days.
Former teammates who visitedhim in Rock Hill, they barely recognized
the person he'd become, thatquiet, strategic player they'd known.
He.
He transformed into someonewho could barely maintain a conversation.
(07:47):
He would pace for hours in hisfather's yard, just muttering to
himself.
Neighbors reported seeing himat these weird hours, sometimes just
standing motionless in hisdriveway at 3 in the morning, staring
into nothing.
And here's what's reallyhaunting his medical records showed
these increasingly desperateattempts to get help.
(08:09):
He'd been to multipleneurologists complaining about these
severe headaches and memory issues.
Just three weeks before thatWednesday, three weeks, y'all, he
had an appointment where hedescribed feeling like his head was
disconnected from his body.
The doctor prescribedmedication, but toxicology reports
(08:30):
would later show he wasn'ttaking it.
And get this.
He'd actually been to Dr.
Leslie's practice twice in2020 seeking treatment for prescription
medication dependency.
Dr.
Leslie, being the caringphysician he was, had worked with
Adams to develop thistreatment plan.
(08:51):
But Adams had stopped showingup for appointments, and there was
no indication of any conflictbetween them.
So on that Wednesday afternoonat 4:45pm Robert Shook somehow manages
to make a 911 call.
He's critically wounded, buthe still has the presence of mind
to call both 911 and hissupervisor at GSM Services.
(09:15):
The dispatcher later said itwas one of the most heart wrenching
calls of her career.
Because Shook maintained thisincredible professional calm Even
while gravely injured, givingclear directions to the house and
warning about an active shooter.
When police arrive at theLeslie home, they're faced with an
impossible situation.
(09:36):
Many of them knew Dr.
Leslie personally.
He'd treated their colleaguesin the ER.
Some had kids who went toschool with Adah and Noah.
Officer James Brown, one ofthe first responders, Dr.
Leslie had treated him for aworkplace injury just two weeks earlier.
Now he's performing CPR on thedoctor who helped him, the paramedics
(09:57):
who arrived minutes later.
Several of them had workedwith Dr.
Leslie in the ER.
One paramedic, Sarah Martinez,had to step aside when she recognized
Noah.
He'd been in her Sunday school class.
But even through theirpersonal grief, these first responders
maintained theirprofessionalism in what had to be
(10:18):
one of the hardest calls oftheir careers.
As news of the shootingspread, local hospitals initiated
mass casualty protocols, onlyto face this heartbreaking reality
that there would be nosurvivors to treat.
Except Robert Shook.
The emergency room where Dr.
Leslie had worked for so manyyears became this waiting room for
(10:39):
his own family members as theyarrived, many in complete disbelief
that this could be happeningin Rock Hill now.
During the investigation thatfollowed, police discovered something
chilling.
Adams had been tracking Dr.
Leslie's movements for several days.
Security footage from nearbybusinesses showed his truck passing
(11:00):
by the medical practicemultiple times.
He'd even attended the samechurch service as the Leslies the
previous Sunday, though theyhadn't interacted.
The investigation noted thatAdams had cleaned and staged his
weapons beforehand, suggesting premeditation.
He'd also turned off his phoneand done nothing to hide his identity,
(11:21):
leading investigators tobelieve he never intended to escape.
Y'all, this is scary.
Here is what everyone says isa good man, and he is ruthlessly
planning on going on a one waycrime rampage.
What other person in mycommunity might be feeling the same
way?
Scary.
But here's where it gets evenmore complex, y'all.
(11:42):
The investigation revealedthat in the months before the shooting,
Adam's behavior had becomeincreasingly erratic.
He'd tried to maintain someconnection to football by helping
coach at a local high school,but his behavior made that impossible.
He'd show up late, forgetbasic drills he'd performed thousands
of times, and sometimes leavemid practice without explanation.
(12:06):
The head coach, who'd knownAdams since his own high school days,
finally had to ask him to stopcoming around.
He'd attempted to startseveral businesses in Rock Hill.
A gym, a nutrition supplementstore, and a sports training facility
for kids.
All failed within monthsbecause he couldn't keep track of
(12:27):
basic paperwork.
Or remember client appointments.
His disability application tothe NFL filed in 2016 painted this
devastating picture.
He described being unable toremember his kids birthdays, getting
lost in familiarneighborhoods, and experiencing these
intense rage episodes overminor frustrations.
(12:49):
So at the same time, Adams ishaving a hard time planning his day.
He could plan a mass murder,but back to the crime.
After an hours long manhunt,police surrounded Adams at his father's
house.
Before they could take himinto custody, he took his own life.
He was 32 years old.
The standoff at Adams father'shouse lasted nearly eight hours.
(13:11):
Crisis negotiators mademultiple attempts to contact him.
His father, Alonzo Adams,tried desperately to reach him by
phone.
When police finally entered,they found evidence that Adams had
been writing in journalsdocumenting his deteriorating mental
state.
The entries becameincreasingly paranoid and confused
(13:31):
over time, with the finalentry simply reading I am not here.
After Adams took his own Life,Adam, Dr.
Ann McKee, a leadingresearcher in sports related brain
injuries, examined his brainat Boston University's CTE Center.
And y'all.
The results were devastating.
Adams had Stage 2 CTE withsevere damage to his frontal lobe.
(13:56):
That's the part of the brainresponsible for impulse control,
judgment and emotional regulation.
Let me break down what CTEactually is because this is crucial
to understanding this case.
Chronic Traumaticencephalopathy is this progressive
brain condition caused byrepeated head trauma.
It can currently only bedefinitively diagnosed after death,
(14:19):
which makes it particularlychallenging to study and treat.
What we do know is that itcauses the buildup of an abnormal
protein called tau, whichgradually kills brain cells.
The damage to Adam's frontallobe was unusually severe even compared
to other NFL players with cte.
This kind of damage can causeimpulsive behavior, aggression, depression,
(14:42):
paranoia, memory loss, andemotional instability.
I can't even tell you how thisaffected the Rock Hill community.
Like, imagine living in a townwhere everyone knows everyone.
Where your doctor isn't justyour doctor, but someone who delivered
your kids.
Where your neighbor's footballsuccess was everyone's success.
And then in one day, all ofthat changes.
(15:05):
Former patients started comingforward with these stories about
Dr.
Leslie that just break my heart.
Like this one mom who told thestory of how Dr.
Leslie had paid for her kidsmedications when insurance wouldn't
cover them.
Or how he'd make house callsto elderly patients who couldn't
drive to his office.
And Barbara, she spentcountless hours tutoring this one
woman's dyslexic son.
(15:26):
And when the mom tried to payher, Barbara just said to pay it
forward.
When she could.
And y'all.
The children ate.
Dawes elementary School didsomething that still makes me emotional
when I think about it.
They created this memorialgarden, planting her beloved sunflowers.
Noah's kindergarten classreleased butterflies in his memory
because, get this, he had beenobsessed with their class butterfly
(15:49):
garden project just weeksbefore his death.
But here's where this storygets even more complicated.
Remember how I told you RockHill was known as Football City usa?
Well, this tragedyfundamentally changed how this community
looks at their favorite sport.
Like, the changes they madeafter this are honestly incredible.
(16:09):
South Pointe High School,that's Adam's alma mater, now requires
these super strict baselinecognitive tests for all contact sport
athletes, not just football players.
They've installed these impactsensors in helmets that automatically
alert trainers when a hit istoo hard.
And they're doing somethingthat honestly blows my mind.
(16:31):
They're tracking theirathletes, cumulative impact exposure
across all sports and years ofplay like no other high school in
the country was doing this atthe time.
But, y'all, here's what reallygets me.
The Leslie family's responseto this tragedy shows this extraordinary
grace that I honestly don'tknow if I could muster in their situation.
(16:53):
Instead of calling forvengeance, they emphasized the need
for better understanding ofmental health and brain injury in
sports.
They established the Lesliefoundation, which now supports research
into CTE and mental healthservices for former athletes.
Remember those two H VAC technicians?
(17:13):
The company, GSM Services,established scholarship funds for
both the Lewis and Shook children.
James Lewis's baseball teamretired his coaching jersey, and
they created this annualsportsmanship award in his name.
And every GSM technician nowwears these patches with Robert Shook's
(17:33):
initials on their uniforms.
And y'all, Rock Hill'srelationship with football, it completely
changed.
This town that once proudlycalled itself Football City USA started
having these really hardconversations about the sport that
had put them on the map.
Parents at youth footballpractices started asking more questions
about concussion protocols.
(17:55):
They weren't just acceptingShake it Off as an answer anymore.
The city invested in thisstate of the art facility specifically
for sports related brain injuries.
They named it the RobertLeslie center for Sports Medicine.
And get this.
It provides free baselinetesting for every single youth athlete
in York County.
(18:16):
Like they're tracking thesekids throughout their entire playing
careers to make sure they're safe.
The NFL's response to CTE hasevolved significantly over the past
decade.
When Adams entered the leaguein 2010, concussion protocols were
relatively new.
Today, the league hasimplemented numerous changes.
(18:39):
Players now undergo mandatorybaseline neurological testing before
each season.
Independent Neurologicalconsultants must be present at every
game.
Any player showing signs ofconcussion must pass a five step
return to play protocol.
The league has also bannedcertain types of hits and modified
kickoff rules to reduce highspeed collisions.
(19:02):
In 2022, partly in response tocontinuing concerns about player
brain health, the NFLintroduced even stricter protocols.
Players showing gross motorinstability must now be removed from
play, regardless of potentialnon neurological explanations.
This was a direct response toseveral high profile incidents where
(19:25):
clearly concussed players wereallowed to continue playing.
But these changes came toolate for Philip Adams and his victims.
His father's words haunt the sport.
Football messed him up.
The NFL offers counselingservices through its Player Care
foundation, but many formerplayers either don't know about these
(19:45):
resources or struggle toaccess them.
The transition fromprofessional athlete to civilian
is challenging enough withoutthe added burden of brain injury.
But here's the thing thatkeeps me up at night about this case.
While we can talk about allthe changes that came after the new
protocols, the foundations,the memorials, we can't bring back
(20:07):
Dr.
Leslie, Barbara, Ada, Noah,James and Robert.
We can't undo what happenedthat April day.
And we can't ignore thatPhilip Adams was both perpetrator
and victim of a sport heloved, of injuries we're only beginning
to understand, and of a systemthat maybe could have done more to
(20:28):
help him.
I've read a lot of storiesabout athletes, about violence, about
tragedy.
But this one, this one hitsdifferent because it shows us how
invisible injuries can be justas devastating as physical ones.
How someone can seem fine onthe outside while fighting this massive
(20:49):
battle on the inside.
And how sometimes the warningsigns are only clear in hindsight.
If you're struggling withmental health issues and honestly,
hearing stories like this canbring up a lot of emotions, please
know there are people who wantto help.
The National SuicidePrevention lifeline is available
24.
7 at 1-800-273-TALK.
(21:13):
I want to end this episode bysharing something Dr.
Leslie wrote in one of hisbooks, Angels in the er.
He said, I know without adoubt that life is fragile.
I have come to understand thathumility may be the greatest virtue,
and I am convinced we need totake the time to say the things we
deeply feel to the people wedeeply care about.
This case will stay with meforever, not just because of the
(21:36):
tragedy, but because itreminds us that every story has layers
we might not see at first glance.
That sometimes the mostimportant thing we can do is pay
attention to the people aroundus, to reach out when we notice changes,
and to never, ever take forgranted the time we have with the
people we love.
This is Judy with FangirlCrime, reminding you that while we
(21:59):
love sports, we can't ignorewhen they intersect with tragedy.
And sometimes the mostimportant stories are the ones that
make us question everything wethink we know about the games we
love.
Stay safe, stay passionate,and don't let anyone dim your love
of the game.
Foreign welcome to Fangirl Crime.
I'm Judy and what I'm about totell you is the story of how a six
year NFL veteran's strugglewith brain trauma led to an unthinkable
tragedy in 2021.
Former defensive back PhilipAdams shocked a small South Carolina
community and the entiresports world.
(00:22):
Today we'll explore howrepeated concussions and CTE might
have transformed aprofessional athlete into someone
his own family barely recognized.
But before we dive in, I needto warn you this episode contains
discussions of violence,suicide and mental health issues
that might be difficult forsome listeners.
Please take care of yourself first.
(00:46):
It's April 7, 2021 in RockHill, South Carolina.
The clock reads 4:45pm When a911 dispatcher receives a call that
will haunt her for the rest of her.
On the other end is 38 yearold Robert Shook, an H VAC technician
who's been mortally wounded.
Despite his injuries, hemanages to stay eerily calm, giving
(01:10):
clear directions to theaddress where he and his co worker
have been shot.
When first responders arriveat the home of Dr.
Robert Leslie, they discover ascene so horrific that even veteran
officers struggle to process it.
Inside, they find six victimsof a brutal attack.
Dr.
Leslie, his wife Barbara,their two grandchildren, 9 year old
(01:32):
Ada and 5 year old Noah andJames Lewis, Robert Shook's 38 year
old coworker, are already dead.
Shook, who made thatincredible 911 call, will fight for
his life, but ultimatelysuccumb to his injuries.
Three days later, the shooter,a former NFL defensive back named
Philip Adams.
(01:53):
But y'all, this isn't yourtypical story of an athlete who lost
his way.
This is about something muchdarker, much more complex, and honestly,
much more terrifying.
Because to understand whathappened that April day, we need
to understand how a respectedathlete, a hometown hero, transformed
into someone his own familycouldn't even recognize.
(02:17):
Y'all, today we're going toRock Hill, South Carolina.
And if you follow footballdeeply, you probably know Rock Hill
as Football City, USA.
But after April 7, 2021, thistight knit community of 75,000 people
would become known forsomething far darker.
But before I tell you whathappened that day, I need you to
(02:39):
understand who Dr.
Robert Leslie was to this community.
Because if you talk to anyonein Rock Hill, they'll tell you that
if Philip Adams was one oftheir football success stories, Dr.
Leslie was their healing hands.
For over 40 years, Dr.
Leslie wasn't just any doctor.
He was the doctor thateveryone in Rock Hill trusted.
(03:02):
He kept this little notebookwhere he'd Write down details about
his patients, their kidsnames, their hobbies, their worries.
During COVID he personallycalled elderly patients just to check
on them.
Y'all, this is the kind ofdoctor who would actually remember
your name when you came in.
His wife, Barbara, she matchedhim in every way when it came to
(03:25):
serving their community.
She was this amazing formerteacher who ran this incredible youth
literacy program at their church.
And get this, she had thismassive vegetable garden and she
would personally deliver freshproduce to elderly neighbors and
families in need.
And their grandkids, 9 yearold Ada and 5 year old Noah, were
(03:46):
these bright lights in the community.
Ada was already following inher grandmother's footsteps, helping
with that garden and showingthis amazing talent for growing sunflowers.
Noah, at just five years old,he was already telling everyone he
wanted to be a doctor, justlike papa.
Now, let me tell you aboutPhilip Adams, because this isn't
(04:09):
your typical story of anathlete gone wrong.
Growing up in Rock Hill,everyone knew Philip as this respectful,
hard working kid.
His high school coaches, theyall remember him as being incredibly
coachable and dedicated.
In 2010, the San Francisco49ers selected Adams in the seventh
round of the NFL Draft.
(04:31):
While not a first round pick,making it to the NFL at all was a
dream come true for the kidfrom Rock Hill.
His father, Alonzo Adams,later recalled how proud the family
was on draft day.
They believed Philip wasliving proof that hard work and determination
could make dreams reality.
Adams NFL career was whatscouts called journeyman, steady
(04:53):
but not spectacular.
Over six seasons, he playedfor six different teams.
The 49ers, Patriots, Raiders,Seat, Seahawks, jets, and finally
the Falcons.
He appeared in 78 games,recording 128 tackles and five interceptions.
But it's what happened duringthose games that would later prove
(05:14):
crucial to understanding this case.
In 2012, while playing for theRaiders, Adams suffered two concussions
within three games.
This was during a transitionalperiod in the NFL's approach to head
injuries.
The league had implemented itsfirst concussion protocols in 2009,
but they weren't nearly ascomprehensive as today's standards.
(05:37):
Players often felt pressure toshake it off and get back on the
field.
Former teammates startednoticing changes in Adams after these
injuries.
The quiet, respectful playerbecame increasingly withdrawn.
He struggled with insomnia andcomplained of severe headaches.
One teammate speakinganonymously after the tragedy, recalled
(05:59):
Adams becoming paranoid aboutpeople's intentions and struggling
to maintain close relationships.
After retiring from the NFL in2016, Adams's behavior became increasingly
erratic.
He filed for disabilitybenefits, citing short term memory
loss, depression and anxiety.
That made it impossible tohold a job despite his NFL career.
(06:23):
He moved back in with hisfather in Rock Hill, where his mental
state continued to deteriorate.
And y'all, this is wherethings get really dark.
Because on April 7, 2021, Dr.
Leslie was seeing patients athis clinic just like any other Wednesday.
Barbara was at home with Adaand Noah, who were visiting during
(06:44):
their spring break.
And there were these two H VACtechnicians at the house.
James Lewis and Robert Shook,just doing routine work on the air
conditioning system.
James Lewis was 38, thisamazing single dad of three young
kids.
He coached his son's baseballteam and had just started college
funds for his daughters.
(07:04):
Robert Shook, also 38, wasmarried with three kids of his own.
He was known for never turningdown an overtime shift if it meant
providing better opportunitiesfor his family.
Now, over at Philip Adamshouse, things were different.
In the months leading up tothis day, people who knew him had
noticed some seriouslyconcerning changes.
(07:25):
He'd been living with hisfather in this modest home less than
a mile from the Leslie's.
But his life was nothing likehis NFL days.
Former teammates who visitedhim in Rock Hill, they barely recognized
the person he'd become, thatquiet, strategic player they'd known.
He.
He transformed into someonewho could barely maintain a conversation.
(07:47):
He would pace for hours in hisfather's yard, just muttering to
himself.
Neighbors reported seeing himat these weird hours, sometimes just
standing motionless in hisdriveway at 3 in the morning, staring
into nothing.
And here's what's reallyhaunting his medical records showed
these increasingly desperateattempts to get help.
(08:09):
He'd been to multipleneurologists complaining about these
severe headaches and memory issues.
Just three weeks before thatWednesday, three weeks, y'all, he
had an appointment where hedescribed feeling like his head was
disconnected from his body.
The doctor prescribedmedication, but toxicology reports
(08:30):
would later show he wasn'ttaking it.
And get this.
He'd actually been to Dr.
Leslie's practice twice in2020 seeking treatment for prescription
medication dependency.
Dr.
Leslie, being the caringphysician he was, had worked with
Adams to develop thistreatment plan.
(08:51):
But Adams had stopped showingup for appointments, and there was
no indication of any conflictbetween them.
So on that Wednesday afternoonat 4:45pm Robert Shook somehow manages
to make a 911 call.
He's critically wounded, buthe still has the presence of mind
to call both 911 and hissupervisor at GSM Services.
(09:15):
The dispatcher later said itwas one of the most heart wrenching
calls of her career.
Because Shook maintained thisincredible professional calm Even
while gravely injured, givingclear directions to the house and
warning about an active shooter.
When police arrive at theLeslie home, they're faced with an
impossible situation.
(09:36):
Many of them knew Dr.
Leslie personally.
He'd treated their colleaguesin the ER.
Some had kids who went toschool with Adah and Noah.
Officer James Brown, one ofthe first responders, Dr.
Leslie had treated him for aworkplace injury just two weeks earlier.
Now he's performing CPR on thedoctor who helped him, the paramedics
(09:57):
who arrived minutes later.
Several of them had workedwith Dr.
Leslie in the ER.
One paramedic, Sarah Martinez,had to step aside when she recognized
Noah.
He'd been in her Sunday school class.
But even through theirpersonal grief, these first responders
maintained theirprofessionalism in what had to be
(10:18):
one of the hardest calls oftheir careers.
As news of the shootingspread, local hospitals initiated
mass casualty protocols, onlyto face this heartbreaking reality
that there would be nosurvivors to treat.
Except Robert Shook.
The emergency room where Dr.
Leslie had worked for so manyyears became this waiting room for
(10:39):
his own family members as theyarrived, many in complete disbelief
that this could be happeningin Rock Hill now.
During the investigation thatfollowed, police discovered something
chilling.
Adams had been tracking Dr.
Leslie's movements for several days.
Security footage from nearbybusinesses showed his truck passing
(11:00):
by the medical practicemultiple times.
He'd even attended the samechurch service as the Leslies the
previous Sunday, though theyhadn't interacted.
The investigation noted thatAdams had cleaned and staged his
weapons beforehand, suggesting premeditation.
He'd also turned off his phoneand done nothing to hide his identity,
(11:21):
leading investigators tobelieve he never intended to escape.
Y'all, this is scary.
Here is what everyone says isa good man, and he is ruthlessly
planning on going on a one waycrime rampage.
What other person in mycommunity might be feeling the same
way?
Scary.
But here's where it gets evenmore complex, y'all.
(11:42):
The investigation revealedthat in the months before the shooting,
Adam's behavior had becomeincreasingly erratic.
He'd tried to maintain someconnection to football by helping
coach at a local high school,but his behavior made that impossible.
He'd show up late, forgetbasic drills he'd performed thousands
of times, and sometimes leavemid practice without explanation.
(12:06):
The head coach, who'd knownAdams since his own high school days,
finally had to ask him to stopcoming around.
He'd attempted to startseveral businesses in Rock Hill.
A gym, a nutrition supplementstore, and a sports training facility
for kids.
All failed within monthsbecause he couldn't keep track of
(12:27):
basic paperwork.
Or remember client appointments.
His disability application tothe NFL filed in 2016 painted this
devastating picture.
He described being unable toremember his kids birthdays, getting
lost in familiarneighborhoods, and experiencing these
intense rage episodes overminor frustrations.
(12:49):
So at the same time, Adams ishaving a hard time planning his day.
He could plan a mass murder,but back to the crime.
After an hours long manhunt,police surrounded Adams at his father's
house.
Before they could take himinto custody, he took his own life.
He was 32 years old.
The standoff at Adams father'shouse lasted nearly eight hours.
(13:11):
Crisis negotiators mademultiple attempts to contact him.
His father, Alonzo Adams,tried desperately to reach him by
phone.
When police finally entered,they found evidence that Adams had
been writing in journalsdocumenting his deteriorating mental
state.
The entries becameincreasingly paranoid and confused
(13:31):
over time, with the finalentry simply reading I am not here.
After Adams took his own Life,Adam, Dr.
Ann McKee, a leadingresearcher in sports related brain
injuries, examined his brainat Boston University's CTE Center.
And y'all.
The results were devastating.
Adams had Stage 2 CTE withsevere damage to his frontal lobe.
(13:56):
That's the part of the brainresponsible for impulse control,
judgment and emotional regulation.
Let me break down what CTEactually is because this is crucial
to understanding this case.
Chronic Traumaticencephalopathy is this progressive
brain condition caused byrepeated head trauma.
It can currently only bedefinitively diagnosed after death,
(14:19):
which makes it particularlychallenging to study and treat.
What we do know is that itcauses the buildup of an abnormal
protein called tau, whichgradually kills brain cells.
The damage to Adam's frontallobe was unusually severe even compared
to other NFL players with cte.
This kind of damage can causeimpulsive behavior, aggression, depression,
(14:42):
paranoia, memory loss, andemotional instability.
I can't even tell you how thisaffected the Rock Hill community.
Like, imagine living in a townwhere everyone knows everyone.
Where your doctor isn't justyour doctor, but someone who delivered
your kids.
Where your neighbor's footballsuccess was everyone's success.
And then in one day, all ofthat changes.
(15:05):
Former patients started comingforward with these stories about
Dr.
Leslie that just break my heart.
Like this one mom who told thestory of how Dr.
Leslie had paid for her kidsmedications when insurance wouldn't
cover them.
Or how he'd make house callsto elderly patients who couldn't
drive to his office.
And Barbara, she spentcountless hours tutoring this one
woman's dyslexic son.
(15:26):
And when the mom tried to payher, Barbara just said to pay it
forward.
When she could.
And y'all.
The children ate.
Dawes elementary School didsomething that still makes me emotional
when I think about it.
They created this memorialgarden, planting her beloved sunflowers.
Noah's kindergarten classreleased butterflies in his memory
because, get this, he had beenobsessed with their class butterfly
(15:49):
garden project just weeksbefore his death.
But here's where this storygets even more complicated.
Remember how I told you RockHill was known as Football City usa?
Well, this tragedyfundamentally changed how this community
looks at their favorite sport.
Like, the changes they madeafter this are honestly incredible.
(16:09):
South Pointe High School,that's Adam's alma mater, now requires
these super strict baselinecognitive tests for all contact sport
athletes, not just football players.
They've installed these impactsensors in helmets that automatically
alert trainers when a hit istoo hard.
And they're doing somethingthat honestly blows my mind.
(16:31):
They're tracking theirathletes, cumulative impact exposure
across all sports and years ofplay like no other high school in
the country was doing this atthe time.
But, y'all, here's what reallygets me.
The Leslie family's responseto this tragedy shows this extraordinary
grace that I honestly don'tknow if I could muster in their situation.
(16:53):
Instead of calling forvengeance, they emphasized the need
for better understanding ofmental health and brain injury in
sports.
They established the Lesliefoundation, which now supports research
into CTE and mental healthservices for former athletes.
Remember those two H VAC technicians?
(17:13):
The company, GSM Services,established scholarship funds for
both the Lewis and Shook children.
James Lewis's baseball teamretired his coaching jersey, and
they created this annualsportsmanship award in his name.
And every GSM technician nowwears these patches with Robert Shook's
(17:33):
initials on their uniforms.
And y'all, Rock Hill'srelationship with football, it completely
changed.
This town that once proudlycalled itself Football City USA started
having these really hardconversations about the sport that
had put them on the map.
Parents at youth footballpractices started asking more questions
about concussion protocols.
(17:55):
They weren't just acceptingShake it Off as an answer anymore.
The city invested in thisstate of the art facility specifically
for sports related brain injuries.
They named it the RobertLeslie center for Sports Medicine.
And get this.
It provides free baselinetesting for every single youth athlete
in York County.
(18:16):
Like they're tracking thesekids throughout their entire playing
careers to make sure they're safe.
The NFL's response to CTE hasevolved significantly over the past
decade.
When Adams entered the leaguein 2010, concussion protocols were
relatively new.
Today, the league hasimplemented numerous changes.
(18:39):
Players now undergo mandatorybaseline neurological testing before
each season.
Independent Neurologicalconsultants must be present at every
game.
Any player showing signs ofconcussion must pass a five step
return to play protocol.
The league has also bannedcertain types of hits and modified
kickoff rules to reduce highspeed collisions.
(19:02):
In 2022, partly in response tocontinuing concerns about player
brain health, the NFLintroduced even stricter protocols.
Players showing gross motorinstability must now be removed from
play, regardless of potentialnon neurological explanations.
This was a direct response toseveral high profile incidents where
(19:25):
clearly concussed players wereallowed to continue playing.
But these changes came toolate for Philip Adams and his victims.
His father's words haunt the sport.
Football messed him up.
The NFL offers counselingservices through its Player Care
foundation, but many formerplayers either don't know about these
(19:45):
resources or struggle toaccess them.
The transition fromprofessional athlete to civilian
is challenging enough withoutthe added burden of brain injury.
But here's the thing thatkeeps me up at night about this case.
While we can talk about allthe changes that came after the new
protocols, the foundations,the memorials, we can't bring back
(20:07):
Dr.
Leslie, Barbara, Ada, Noah,James and Robert.
We can't undo what happenedthat April day.
And we can't ignore thatPhilip Adams was both perpetrator
and victim of a sport heloved, of injuries we're only beginning
to understand, and of a systemthat maybe could have done more to
(20:28):
help him.
I've read a lot of storiesabout athletes, about violence, about
tragedy.
But this one, this one hitsdifferent because it shows us how
invisible injuries can be justas devastating as physical ones.
How someone can seem fine onthe outside while fighting this massive
(20:49):
battle on the inside.
And how sometimes the warningsigns are only clear in hindsight.
If you're struggling withmental health issues and honestly,
hearing stories like this canbring up a lot of emotions, please
know there are people who wantto help.
The National SuicidePrevention lifeline is available
24.
7 at 1-800-273-TALK.
(21:13):
I want to end this episode bysharing something Dr.
Leslie wrote in one of hisbooks, Angels in the er.
He said, I know without adoubt that life is fragile.
I have come to understand thathumility may be the greatest virtue,
and I am convinced we need totake the time to say the things we
deeply feel to the people wedeeply care about.
This case will stay with meforever, not just because of the
(21:36):
tragedy, but because itreminds us that every story has layers
we might not see at first glance.
That sometimes the mostimportant thing we can do is pay
attention to the people aroundus, to reach out when we notice changes,
and to never, ever take forgranted the time we have with the
people we love.
This is Judy with FangirlCrime, reminding you that while we
(21:59):
love sports, we can't ignorewhen they intersect with tragedy.
And sometimes the mostimportant stories are the ones that
make us question everything wethink we know about the games we
love.
Stay safe, stay passionate,and don't let anyone dim your love
of the game.
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