On a tragic day in April 2021, Robert Eugene Shook Jr., a 38-year-old male HVAC technician, was gunned down in a mass shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and succumbed to his injuries days later. A dedicated husband and father of three, Shook was known as a hardworking man who loved his family, cooking, and carp fishing.
On April 7, 2021, Shook and his colleague, James Lewis, were performing maintenance work at the home of Dr. Robert Lesslie.
It was then that former NFL player Phillip Adams approached the residence and opened fire. Both Shook and Lewis were shot outside the house. Dr. Lesslie, his wife Barbara, and their two grandchildren, Adah and Noah, were also fatally shot inside the home.
Despite being shot six times, Shook was able to call his supervisor for help, a call that led to the initial 911 report. First responders airlifted him to a hospital in Charlotte where he underwent multiple surgeries. For several days, he fought for his life, becoming the sole survivor of the initial attack. Tragically, on April 10, Robert Shook passed away from his injuries, raising the death toll of the shooting to six.
The investigation into the senseless violence quickly identified Phillip Adams as the perpetrator. After a standoff with police at his nearby home, Adams took his own life. While a definitive motive was never established, it has been suggested that Adams suffered from severe mental health issues, possibly related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy a brain condition associated with repeated head trauma from his football career. As the sole suspect in the killings, Adams' death concluded the investigation, and no further arrests were made in connection with the tragic event. The Rock Hill community was left to mourn the immense loss of all the victims.
