Man, 41, dies in shooting at Rock Hill apartments

Rock Hill Police are looking for two suspects involved in a deadly shooting Monday at a local apartment complex.

Antonio Heath, 41, of Rock Hill died in the shooting at about 8:50 p.m. in the Deerfield Run Apartments off India Hook Road.

Heath is a "devoted" father of four boys and three girls, said neighbor Ryan Varnadore, who has been friends with "Tony" since they attended Sullivan Middle School together.

Varnadore was home with his family Monday night when he heard four or five shots fired.

He said he believes Heath was coming outside to smoke a cigarette when the shooting occurred.

"After we heard all of the gunshots, I dove to the ground to cover my family," Varnadore said. "Then I stuck my head out and I realized my buddy was shot."

Three bullets pierced the door of the McGee Road residence. Heath's wife, Carrie, and children were not harmed during the incident.

Varnadore held his hurt friend while Heath's wife called for help. "I was in here trying to save a life," he said.

Heath was transported to Piedmont Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds, according to Rock Hill Police.

"By the time the paramedics got here, I was on the sidewalk telling Tony to hang in there," Varnadore said.

Heath was a father to seven children, ages range from 4 to 15.

Police describe the suspects as two men carrying handguns and wearing camouflage jackets.

Police say that the shooting occurred in the breezeway of the apartment complex where Heath lived.

Officials have not released a motive.

"He was at the wrong place at the wrong time," Varnadore said. "He was a good guy that was taken for no reason."

Another friend, Christopher Johnson, 33, was also shaken up by the news of Heath's death. He has known Heath for four years and his two children played with Heath's kids.

Heath helped Johnson and his family move in when they arrived in the neighborhood. "He was a great guy," he said.

"I don't know how I'm going to tell my children about this," Johnson said. "It was just a tragedy."

Heath Hamacher, 41, said he attended Northwestern High School with Heath. Hamacher remembers him as being "laid back and funny."

"He’s the type of guy who you can’t imagine having an enemy in the world," Hamacher told The Herald.

"Though I haven’t seen him in years, I’m sad today," Hamacher said. "He was one of those guys I would have loved to run into on the street and had a chance to catch up with.

Heath worked at Two Men And A Truck, and a company spokesman said the team "filled with heavy hearts."

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Antonio Heath," said Two Men Marketing Coordinator Monika Markley "Mr. Heath was dedicated to his family and loved to watch their twins’ football games and spent most of his free time fishing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”

The Deerfield Run apartment property manager could not be reached for comment. The apartment complex is across the street from Ebinport Elementary School.

"The Rock Hill School District family was saddened to hear about the tragic shooting and death of Mr. Heath," Rock Hill schools spokeswoman Elaine Baker said in a statement. "His children are enrolled in several of our schools, and our hearts go out to them as they deal with the loss of their dad."

The Rock Hill Police Department asks that anyone with information on this incident should contact York County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-409-4321.

This is Rock Hill's fifth homicide in 2014.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 8:57 AM with the headline "Man, 41, dies in shooting at Rock Hill apartments."