An 80-year-old man has been charged with murder after fatally shooting an 11-year-old girl and his wife in separate locations in Sumter County late Wednesday night, authorities said.
Reuben Arthur Leonard entered a home on Floyd Drive around 10:30 p.m. on April 16 and began firing a weapon, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies found the child, identified as Ashly Turner, suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Despite emergency medical efforts, McFarland was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members were restraining Leonard when deputies arrived.
Witnesses reported that Leonard had ongoing disputes with the family. He reportedly told family members at the home: “I told you sons of b*tches I was coming back to kill you.”
While being handcuffed, Leonard told deputies to check on his wife, saying he had shot her as well. Sumter Police responded to Leonard’s home on Saltwood Road and found his 76-year-old wife, Felicia Leonard, dead inside the garage with multiple gunshot wounds.
Leonard was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the incident. He is expected to recover and will be booked into the Sumter County Detention Center to face murder charges from both the sheriff’s office and police department.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis described the event as “a horrific incident” and said investigators are working diligently to uncover all details. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have promised to release more information as it becomes available.
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