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Police still looking for person of interest in beating death of 82-year-old veteran

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Police are still searching for the person who they said broke into an 82-year-old veteran’s Rock Hill home and attacked him during a burglary around New Year’s Eve 2020. The victim died days later in the hospital.

The home invasion happened sometime between Dec. 31, 2020 at 9 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2021. Now more than two years later, police say they’re still hoping to identify a person of interest in the case.

According to investigators, someone broke into Bill Mason’s home on Ferndale Drive and attacked him before taking off with several of his items.

In late January 2021, police released a composite sketch of a person of interest.

If you recognize him, call 803-329-7293.

Neighbor Ray Logan told Channel 9 that Mason wasn’t just a neighbor -- he was a trusted friend.

“He watched all my kids grow up and graduate. Looked after them too when I wasn’t around,” he said.

On New Year’s Day, Logan’s daughter noticed that Mason’s door was opened and that it appeared damaged.

“She came and seen the door was busted open, and that’s when I ran over, and it was just a horrific scene,” he said.

Logan said he found Mason on the floor with serious injuries and called 911.

Mason was rushed to the hospital where he spent several days before returning home to recover. He died Thursday night with his daughter and granddaughter by his side.

His granddaughter didn’t want to be identified but said if the suspects aren’t caught, it won’t end here.

“We need to get these people before they destroy so many other lives. Nobody should have to go through this. No one,” she said.

Mason was an Air Force veteran who’d lived in the house alone since his wife died. He loved yard work and was a fixture in the neighborhood that everyone knew.

Logan visited his friend every day at the hospital, then kept his family company once he came home. He even fixed some of the damage the attackers left behind.

He’s urging them to turn themselves in.

“This man’s on a walker, 82-years-old, a retired veteran, living by himself. He didn’t deserve this, man,” Logan said.

(WATCH BELOW: 80-year-old man carjacked at gunpoint in south Charlotte)