Tears and frustration pour out after South Carolina mass shooting. ‘This has to stop’
The deaths of a prominent South Carolina doctor and four other people, including two children, were quickly met with heartache and frustration.
Officials say 70-year-old Dr. Robert Lesslie, his wife, two of their grandchildren and a worker at the doctor’s Rock Hill home were killed Wednesday. A sixth person was injured.
Former NFL player Phillip Adams was identified as a suspect in the case, the Rock Hill Herald reported. He later died by suicide.
News of the killings stunned the community located about 27 miles south of Charlotte.
Ralph Norman, a Republican who represents the Rock Hill area in Congress, said Dr. Lesslie and his wife, Barbara, were close friends.
“To know the Lesslie family is to love them,” Norman wrote on Twitter. “Through the decades, they made such an incredible impact on our area and the lives of countless people — more than they could have ever known.”
Other South Carolina politicians also expressed their sympathies.
“Very sad news coming from York County overnight,” Republican Sen. Tim Scott said on Twitter. “My deepest sympathies and prayers are with Dr. Lesslie’s family and the Rock Hill community.”
“It’s difficult for me to even wrap my head around such a senseless tragedy,” Joe Cunningham, a Democrat who represented South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives for two years, wrote on Twitter. “While we don’t yet know all the details, I am devastated for this family and everyone who knew them in York County.”
The North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Action Fund released a statement Thursday, saying they “are deeply saddened by the tragedy.”
Some social media users noted this is the second time in recent days that a former professional football player was linked to a shooting case.
Ex-Florida State wide receiver Travis Rudolph, who played in the NFL for the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins, was charged with first-degree murder this week. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said Rudolph shot at four people, killing one, the Miami Herald reported.
Very sad news coming from York County overnight. My deepest sympathies and prayers are with Dr. Lesslie's family and the Rock Hill community.
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2021
My statement on the the tragic loss of Dr. Robert & Barbara Lesslie, and two grandchildren: https://t.co/FnVlMXTX9g pic.twitter.com/eemzvGFjiS
— Rep. Ralph Norman (@RepRalphNorman) April 8, 2021
Today Biden is signing EO on gun control. Coincidence there was a mass shooting just in time to go along with it?
— Dianne (@DianneInIndiana) April 8, 2021
So 2 former @nfl players have allegedly killed people recently #travisrudolph and #phillipadams Not a good day for the shield. @AroundTheNFL
— Matthew Carson (@MattCar47026293) April 8, 2021
Five people, including two children, are dead in SC from another mass shooting. Needless to say, this has to stop.
— @297_Aruba_Lover (@297_ArubaLover) April 8, 2021
What the heck!!! #PhillipAdams killed people and then himself?!! What is going on?!!!!
— Jaeden Doran (@JaedenDoran) April 8, 2021
#phillipadams#NFL
I don't think Satan have a football team, but this Monster deserve hell...
Another massive shooting, education is solution not guns...
RIP for innocents...— Alexandre REJA-BRET (@BretReja) April 8, 2021
America's gun psychopathy continues. There have been 156 mass shootings (with 4 or more people shot) in the US so far in 2021. At least 51 involved domestic or juvenile victims.
The latest - in which 2 children were killed - in Rock Hill, South Carolina:https://t.co/TIeudnCFCy— MassShootingTracker (@massshootingtrk) April 8, 2021
It’s difficult for me to even wrap my head around such a senseless tragedy. While we don’t yet know all the details, I am devastated for this family and everyone who knew them in York County. Pls join me in lifting them and their loved ones up in prayer. https://t.co/Y6KP3G6VHV
— Joe Cunningham (@JoeCunninghamSC) April 8, 2021
In the midst of that horrible story out of #RockHill #SouthCarolina this morning I found the Doctors blog post & it is beautiful. https://t.co/bLxhngqrKe
— Kelly Nash (@KellyNashRadio) April 8, 2021
Another physician murdered.
His wife and grandchildren too.
By an @nfl former patient.
I suspect the CTE discussion will come up, but sensible gun laws also need to be discussed. This must stop. https://t.co/utUmfKnG75— Joy Henningsen, MD (@JoyHenningsenMD) April 8, 2021
Pretty surreal that this happened in my hometown hitting a family that so many in my home community loved. The world is still filled with evil people. https://t.co/W3SlGBbYpi
— DZ | Rob (@EsportRob) April 8, 2021