In the quiet community of Sumter County, South Carolina, the life of 11-year-old Ashly McFarland, a vibrant fifth-grader at Kingsbury Elementary School, was tragically cut short on the night of April 16, 2025. Her death, alongside that of 76-year-old Felicia Leonard, has left the tight-knit community grappling with grief and disbelief. The man accused of these heinous acts is 80-year-old Reuben Arthur Leonard, a neighbor whose actions have shattered the sense of safety in this small town. Charged with two counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder, Leonard’s alleged rampage has sparked an outpouring of sorrow and questions about what could drive such violence.
The sequence of events began around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a frantic call about a shooting at a home on Floyd Drive. Inside, they found a scene of chaos: Ashly McFarland, struck by a gunshot, lay lifeless, her family and neighbors in shock. Witnesses reported that Leonard, a resident of nearby Saltwood Road, had entered the home wielding an assault rifle and opened fire. The household, occupied by approximately 10 people, managed to overpower and disarm Leonard, restraining him until deputies arrived. Despite attempts by emergency medical services to save her, Ashly was pronounced dead at the scene, her young life extinguished in an instant.
As deputies took Leonard into custody, he made a chilling confession: he had killed his wife, Felicia, before walking the short distance through a wooded area to the Floyd Drive residence. The Sumter Police Department, alerted to this claim, searched Leonard’s home and discovered Felicia’s body in the garage, dead from a gunshot wound. The proximity of the two homes—barely 100 yards apart—underscored the personal nature of the tragedy, as Leonard was a known figure in the neighborhood, often vocal about his frustrations.
Investigators revealed that Leonard’s actions may have been fueled by a simmering dispute with the Floyd Drive household. He had repeatedly complained about their backyard target practice, a legal activity that nonetheless irritated him. Just days earlier, on April 14, Leonard had been charged with breach of peace after confronting the same neighbors, an incident that prompted Sheriff Anthony Dennis to personally urge him to call 911 or contact authorities if tensions escalated. Tragically, Leonard did not heed this advice. Instead, he allegedly took matters into his own hands, with devastating consequences.
Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner, addressing the media, emphasized that Leonard showed no signs of dementia or mental health issues, leaving authorities puzzled about the motive behind Felicia’s murder. The community, meanwhile, remembers Felicia as a kind and compassionate woman, a stark contrast to the violence that ended her life. Ashly, too, was cherished—a bright student whose loss has prompted an outpouring of support, including a memorial bow placed on the street sign near her family’s home.
Leonard, treated for injuries sustained during his apprehension, remains in a local hospital but will face booking at the Sumter County Detention Center upon release. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 6, though a circuit court judge will determine any bond at a later date. Sheriff Dennis described the incident as “horrific,” vowing that investigators would leave no stone unturned in seeking justice.
For Sumter County, the wounds of this tragedy run deep. As Ashly’s family and the broader community mourn, they are left to confront the senselessness of gun violence and the fragility of peace in their neighborhood. The loss of a child and a beloved neighbor has united residents in grief, with calls for healing and reflection echoing through the streets of Sumter.