In the quiet community of Sumter, South Carolina, a dispute between neighbors over target practice escalated into a tragic and violent outburst, claiming the lives of two people, including 11-year-old Ashley McFarland. The young girl, a fifth-grade student at Kingsbury Elementary School, was fatally shot on the evening of April 16, 2025.
The harrowing events unfolded when 80-year-old Reuben Arthur Leonard, reportedly upset about his neighbors' target shooting, took matters into his own
hands. Authorities stated that Leonard first shot and killed his own wife, 76-year-old Felicia Leonard, in the garage of their home. Shortly after, armed with an assault-style rifle and a second weapon, Leonard walked to his neighbors' residence on Floyd Drive. He entered the home 'home invasion style' and opened fire indiscriminately on the roughly 10 to 11 people inside, with the intent to 'kill everybody at that residence,' according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. Ashley was struck by the gunfire and died instantly.
In the midst of the chaos, family members in the home bravely tackled and restrained Leonard until law enforcement arrived. Upon his arrest, Leonard confessed to killing his wife prior to the attack on the McFarland residence. Investigators believe the motive for the shooting at the neighbors' home was an ongoing dispute over their legal target practice. Leonard had reportedly made several complaints to the police about the noise.
Reuben Arthur Leonard was taken to a local hospital for injuries he sustained while being subdued by the family. He was later booked into the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. Leonard has been charged with two counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder, among other charges. During his initial court appearance, a judge denied bond due to the severity of the charges.
