‘This is a horrific incident’: Man accused of shooting, killing his wife and an 11-year-old girl
SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) - A 80-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of his wife and an 11-year-old child.
Reuben Arthur Leonard has been charged with two counts of murder, one in Sumter County and the other in the City of Sumter.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said they responded to a reported shooting at a home on Floyd Drive at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night.
During a press conference, Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner said Leonard entered the home, which was occupied by approximately 10 people, with an assault rifle and began shooting.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they said they found an 11-year-old child with a gunshot wound and Leonard being restrained by family . The of the household were able to disarm Leonard while restraining him, according to SCSO.
Deputies confirmed to WIS that the child was a girl and said she was killed instantly. The Sumter County Coroner’s Office identified the girl as Ashly McFarland of Sumter County.
Chief Deputy Gardner said Leonard had been upset at the of the Floyd Drive household because they often shot guns in their backyard for target practice. The sheriff’s office emphasized the target practice sessions were not in violation of any law or ordinance in the city or county.
Leonard’s home on Saltwood Road was only 100 yards from the home on Floyd Drive. Gardner said Leonard walked from his home and through the wood line before entering the Floyd Drive residence.
The sheriff’s office said deputies had responded several times to this area due to Leonard’s complaints and that Leonard had been charged with breach of peace on Monday after visiting the Floyd Drive home.
In addition to the shooting on Floyd Drive, Leonard confessed to killing his 76-year-old wife during his arrest.
In order to confirm his claim, the Sumter Police Department responded to Leonard’s home and found his wife, who had been shot and killed in the home’s garage.
Chief Deputy Gardner said there is no confirmed motive for the wife’s murder yet. He also specified Leonard does not have dementia or any apparent mental health difficulties.
Leonard was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries. The sheriff’s office said when Leonard is released, he will be booked into the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.
“This is a horrific incident, and our investigators are working diligently to uncover all the details,” said Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis.
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