An 80-year-old South Carolina man murders his wife and then opens fire on a neighbor’s home, killing an 11-year-old girl, cops allege

​An 80-year-old South Carolina man has been arrested after allegedly murdering his wife and fatally shooting an 11-year-old girl in a neighboring home, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office on social media.

The suspect, identified as Reuben Arthur Leonard, faces two counts of murder following a violent rampage in Sumter County on the night of Wednesday, April 16, 2025.​

According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Leonard first entered a home on Floyd Drive in Sumter County armed with an assault rifle and opened fire. The residence was occupied by approximately 10 people at the time. An 11-year-old girl, identified by the Sumter County Coroner’s Office as Ashly McFarland, was struck and killed instantly. Family members inside the home managed to disarm and restrain Leonard until deputies arrived. ​

Leonard told police he killed his wife that same night

‘This is a horrific incident’: Man accused of shooting, killing his wife and an 11-year-old girl 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 … https://t.co/kM3DqQMZGm

— Oremus4Pacem (@1032shotsfired) April 21, 2025

During his arrest, Leonard confessed to deputies that he had killed his 76-year-old wife earlier that evening. Officers from the Sumter Police Department responded to Leonard’s home on Saltwood Road, approximately 100 yards from the Floyd Drive residence, and discovered his wife deceased in the garage from a gunshot wound. ​

Authorities stated that Leonard had ongoing disputes with the residents of the Floyd Drive home over their frequent target shooting in the backyard. Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner noted that Leonard had previously complained to law enforcement about the noise, leading to multiple responses in the area. 

Just days before the shooting, Leonard was charged with breach of peace after visiting the Floyd Drive home. 

Sheriff Anthony Dennis described the incident as “a horrific incident,” emphasizing that investigators are diligently working to uncover all details surrounding the case, according to South Carolina news outlet ​WYFF4.

Leonard was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the altercation. Upon release, he will be booked into the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

As of now, no confirmed motive has been established for the murder of Leonard’s wife. Authorities have stated that Leonard does not appear to suffer from dementia or other mental health issues. 

The tragic deaths of Ashly McFarland and Leonard’s wife have left the Sumter County community in mourning as they grapple with the senseless violence that occurred in their neighborhood.​

“Our investigators are working diligently to uncover all the details,” Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said after Leonard’s arrest. “More information will be released as it becomes available.”