SC deputy kills gunman who shot at workers, threatened deputies, sheriff says
A Richland County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a gunman who fired at construction workers and threatened deputies, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
On Wednesday, 42-year-old Columbia resident Antonio D. Toney was identified as the man who died, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford.
At about 10 a.m., deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the 300 block of Ovanta Road, the sheriff’s department said in a news release. That’s in a part of Columbia between Lower Richland Boulevard and Rawlinson Road. Numerous shots were fired toward the construction workers in the area, Sheriff Leon Lott said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
In response, Deputies Shawn Sullivan, Mason Boney and Chris Miller contacted the gunman and tried to deescalate the situation, Lott said. Following a conversation between deputies and the shooter, the shooter pointed his weapon at deputies, prompting Sullivan to fire one shot at the man, Lott said.
Toney was shot in the chest and was taken to an area hospital where he later died.
The sheriff’s department said that no law enforcement officers were hurt, and no other injuries were reported.
Sullivan has been with the sheriff’s department for nine years, Boney two years and Miller one year, according to Lott. All three deputies are receiving counseling because of the shooting. Evidence is being gathered for the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office to determine whether the hooting was justified, Lott added.
Family members at the scene indicated that Toney suffered from mental health issues, which Lott acknowledged.
“We’ve talked to some of the family members and we’re also looking into that, but again it’s one of those incidents where someone points a gun at us and making threats, (we) don’t have that luxury of standing back and saying, ‘well, what’s going on?’ You have to take action and defend yourself, and that’s what our deputies did,” Lott said.
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This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM with the headline "SC deputy kills gunman who shot at workers, threatened deputies, sheriff says."
