Rock Hill man gets 15 years prison for killing uncle after girlfriend died in overdose

A Rock Hill man charged with killing his uncle after finding out his girlfriend died from a drug overdose hours earlier has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Bryan Alexander Crosby, 27, admitted in York County court Thursday he shot Ronnie Eugene Williams in early December 2022 at Williams’ home on Archive Street.

Crosby was a “wonderful soul” who became overloaded with emotions after the death of the girlfriend whom Crosby believed was pregnant with his child, said his lawyer, Mark McKinnon of the York County Public Defender’s Office . But prosecutor John Anthony said the girlfriend’s autopsy did not show she was pregnant — and Crosby shot Williams several times hours after the girlfriend died in an overdose.

Williams, 51, allowed Crosby and the girlfriend to stay with him at the house before the shooting, Anthony told Judge Dan Hall.

“Mr. Crosby killed his uncle who had given him a place to stay,” Anthony said.

Hall decided on a 15-year sentence under a plea deal where prosecutors and Crosby’s lawyer agreed on a cap of 20 years for the killing.

“Certainly this case is sad,” Hall told the packed courtroom that had family members on both sides. “It is especially difficult to reach closure when there are family members involved on the other side.”

Prosecutors: Uncle had taken in Crosby

Anthony asked Hall for the 20-year maximum under the deal.

Police found Crosby at an area hotel after the shooting, but Crosby did not admit to the killing, Anthony said. Detectives later arrested Crosby for murder and he’s been in jail ever since.

Rock Hill police detective Dustin Ochiltree said surveillance video from a nearby store showed Crosby buying alcohol shortly after the fatal shooting.

“He killed a man who had opened his home to him,” Ochiltree said.

Williams’ sister also asked for the maximum sentence under the plea agreement.

Defense: Give Crosby a second chance

Crosby read a statement in court saying he went through an “emotional rollercoaster,” but said he was not evil.

“In taking this plea, it is in my heart to do the right thing,” Crosby told Judge Hall.

Crosby had no prior record before the crime and came home from work to learn his girlfriend died from the overdose, McKinnon said. Crosby bought the beer and went to the hotel after the killing to try and process what happened.

He asked Hall for a 10-year sentence that would give Crosby “a second chance at life.”

“This was a tragic day,” McKinnon said.

Crosby had several supporters in court, including an aunt who told Judge Hall he was a good person who made a bad decision.