In a horrifying act of violence, an 80-year-old man from South Carolina allegedly stormed into his neighbor’s home “intent on killing everyone inside,” leaving an 11-year-old girl and his own wife dead, according to police.
Reuben Arthur Leonard is facing multiple murder and attempted murder charges after authorities say he launched an armed assault on April 16 in Sumter, a quiet city located 45 miles east of Columbia.
According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Leonard had long been irritated by his neighbors’ backyard target practice — even though it was perfectly legal. After repeatedly calling the police and confronting them, the situation took a chilling turn.
Deputies say Leonard entered the home “home invasion style” with an assault rifle and another firearm, opened fire on the family inside, and “struck and killed” 11-year-old Ashly McFarland, who died instantly. Her father was also shot while reportedly trying to wrestle the gunman down to stop the bloodshed.
Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner stated at a press conference that Leonard was “on a mission to kill everyone inside the residence,” where 10 to 11 people had gathered. Miraculously, several family members managed to subdue Leonard and held him until authorities arrived.
The horror didn’t end there. When officers confronted Leonard, he confessed to also shooting his 76-year-old wife, Felicia Leonard, who was later found dead from a gunshot wound in the couple’s garage.
“This was unprovoked, senseless, and something like this should never occur,” said Chief Deputy Gardner, adding that Leonard showed no signs of dementia or mental illness.
Investigators revealed that Leonard had been cited just two days earlier for “breach of peace” after complaining again about the neighbors’ target shooting. However, no laws were broken, and no other neighbors had lodged complaints.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis called the event a “horrific incident,” with his team working relentlessly to uncover every detail.
Leonard was treated at a hospital for injuries sustained while being restrained and was later booked at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. He has been charged with two counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder. He was denied bond in his first court appearance and is expected back in court on June 6.
A fundraiser for the McFarland family remembers Ashly as a joyful child whose life was stolen in a senseless act of rage. Her father, hailed as a hero, is recovering from his injuries.