Antonio D. Toney Obituary, Death – On Tuesday, officials confirmed the identity of a man who died following a deputy-involved shooting in Richland County. According to Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford, the deceased was identified as 42-year-old Antonio D. Toney of Columbia. The incident took place along the 300 block of Ovanta Road on Monday morning.
Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) were first called to the area just before 10 a.m. after receiving reports of gunfire. Sheriff Leon Lott later explained that Toney had allegedly fired shots at construction workers who were carrying out work on the road outside his home. After the confrontation, Toney retreated inside his residence.
Sheriff Lott stated that deputies attempted to communicate with Toney through a window, hoping to calm the situation without further violence. However, according to Lott, while deputies were still trying to de-escalate the standoff, Toney raised a firearm, pointed it toward deputies, and issued threats. At that point, RCSD Corporal Shawn Sullivan discharged his weapon, striking Toney once.
Deputies provided immediate aid at the scene until emergency medical services arrived. Toney was transported to a nearby hospital, but despite treatment efforts, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Sheriff Lott emphasized that the matter is still under investigation. The evidence and findings from the inquiry will be submitted to the solicitor’s office, which will ultimately determine whether the deputy’s actions were legally justified.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Corporal Sullivan, along with two other deputies present during the incident—Deputy Mason Boney and Deputy Chris Miller—were placed in counseling, a standard step following critical incidents of this nature.
The sheriff acknowledged the seriousness of the event and reiterated that the safety of both the public and deputies is the department’s priority. He noted that while law enforcement officers strive to resolve dangerous situations peacefully, circumstances can sometimes escalate beyond control.
For now, investigators are continuing to collect evidence and interview witnesses to piece together a complete picture of what transpired on Ovanta Road. The community awaits further updates as the case develops, and officials have pledged transparency as the process moves forward.
This remains an active investigation, and no additional details have been released regarding what may have prompted Toney’s confrontation with construction workers or the deputies’ attempts at negotiation prior to the shooting.
Authorities have not provided a timeline for when the solicitor’s office might reach a decision on the justification of the deputy’s use of force. Until then, the incident remains under review as the community processes the loss of life and the gravity of the encounter between law enforcement and a resident.
In summary, the deadly confrontation began with reports of shots fired, escalated during attempts at negotiation, and ended with Toney being fatally shot after allegedly pointing a gun at deputies. The official review of the shooting is ongoing.
