PHILLIP ADAMS while playing for the Oakland Raiders (Wikipedia).

A former NFL player is believed to be the man who fatally shot five persons – and then himself – early Thursday morning in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Associated Press is reporting that Phillip Adams, 33, who was a defensive back for seven teams including the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons, has been identified as the shooter who killed Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, his wife Barbara Lesslie, 69, and grandchildren Adah Leslie, 9, and Noah Leslie, 5. Additionally, he killed James Lewis, 38, who had been working at the Lesslie home.

A sixth victim, Robert Shook, 38, was in critical condition.

Authorities say he killed himself after midnight with a .45 caliber pistol.

USA Today is reporting that his mental health had declined in recent years. “We definitely did notice signs of mental illness that was extremely concerning,” his sister Lauren Adams was quoted as saying.

Adams played in the NFL from 2010 to 2015. During that time he suffered ankle and concussion injuries.

Floyd “died from lack of oxygen”

OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN

George Floyd, the unarmed Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes, died from a lack of oxygen, a witness testified on Thursday.

Dr. Martin Tobin, a pulmonary expert, told the court in the murder trial of ex-officer Derek Chauvin, that the forcing of a knee on Floyd’s neck, back and side deprived him of oxygen to the brain and caused his heart to stop.

Tobin was making his comments based on video shot by a bystander during the incident in May 2020.

Chauvin is facing a charge of second-degree murder, although it could be downgraded to third-degree murder or second-degree manslaughter.

The trial is expected to last at least two more weeks. Chauvin was fired from the MPD shortly after the incident.

Business: So far, unions at Amazon trailing

An attempt to create a labor union at a huge Amazon.com Inc. warehouse is failing as votes are counted in the election in Bessemer, Alabama. According to Reuters, ballots are running 463 in favor and 1,100 against. All voting was done by mail and the counting is still ongoing.

The union drive has been widely watched by both labor and big business. Amazon pays well –$15 an hour to start – but has been criticized for the rapid pace at which workers are expected to do their jobs. The plant is located in a state that has typically been hostile to organized labor.

Wall Street’s bulls were back in charge Thursday as all three major stock markets posted healthy gains. The Dow Jones Average was up 57.31 points to 33,503.57. The S&P 500 reached a new record high by gaining 17.22 points to close at 4,097.17. Nasdaq jumped 140.47 to finish the day at 13,829.31.

Sports: Making extra innings less extra

Ever sat though watching a baseball game that went into extra innings that went on and on and on? Major League Baseball, in its efforts to speed up games and attract more and younger fans, experimented with starting extra innings with a runner on second base in the condensed 2020 season.

The rule – still considered “experimental” – is back for 2021. But it’s been in place for years at the high school, college and some minor league levels. Still undecided, according to Sports Illustrated, is whether the change will be in place during the post-season.

Weather:  Enjoy the spring

Considering how hot it sometimes gets in the summer in the West Orange County area, these are times to really appreciate the mild weather we’re experiencing. Partly cloudy days with highs in the mid-70s will be with us through Sunday, with temperatures cooling to the high 60s for most of next week. In the coastal Huntington Beach area, daytime highs will be about four to five degrees cooler. A small craft advisory is still in place with winds up to 15 miles an hour.