The brain of former NFL cornerback Phillip Adams will be examined for signs of CTE. With approval from the Adams family, the examination will be led by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and Boston University.
Examination of Adams' brain comes after he killed himself and six others last week. The fatal encounter took place on April 7 when he entered the home of Robert Lesslie and Barbara Lesslie. Adams shot both homeowners, their two grandchildren and air conditioning technician James Lewis. The former NFL cornerback also shot Robert Shook, who was transported to a nearby hospital. However, he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. After taking the lives of six people, Adams shot and killed himself at the age of 32 years old. In the aftermath of the mass shooting, the Adams family issued a statement to the Lesslie family.
"The Phillip we know is not a man that is capable of the atrocities he committed on Wednesday," the Adams family told McClatchy Newspapers.
Those close to Adams point to his long playing career as a cause for an altered mind state. While the NFL says that Adams did not access any mental health programs associated with the league, an unidentified person told the Associated Press that Robert Lesslie had treated Adams in the past. Adding on, his father, Alonzo Adams, said that the sport "messed him up" a great deal.
"I can say he's a good kid - he was a good kid, and I think the football messed him up. He didn't talk much and he didn't bother nobody." Adams told WCNC-TV.
"[His] mental health degraded fast and terribly bad," his sister added.
It will take a few months for researchers to examine Adams' brain and come to a conclusion. The degenerative brain disease is often found in former military members, boxers and other groups that suffer repeated head trauma.
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