11-year-old girl died after an 80-year-old man, who was upset his neighbors were shooting targets in their yard, entered her home armed with a rifle and shot her to death; man charged
South Carolina – In a harrowing act of violence that left South Carolina residents shocked, an 80-year-old man, identified as Reuben L., is accused of embarking on a deadly shooting spree in his neighborhood, which tragically resulted in the deaths of an 11-year-old girl, identified as A. McFarland, and his 76-year-old wife, identified as Felicia L. Reuben now faces charges including murder and attempted murder for the devastating events that unfolded in his neighborhood.
On the evening of April 16, the quiet of the neighborhood was shattered by gunshots as Reuben reportedly targeted his neighbors’ home. According to the sheriff’s office, police were dispatched to a residence following reports of an active shooting at approximately 10:32 p.m. Authorities were alerted by witnesses who identified Reuben as the assailant, claiming he had entered the neighboring home with the intent to “kill everybody” inside. Armed with an assault rifle and carrying an additional weapon, Reuben allegedly executed a home invasion that ended in the death of McFarland and left her father wounded. Chief Deputy H. Gardner revealed during a press conference that the young girl was struck and killed instantly. In a heroic effort, family members managed to subdue Reuben, preventing further tragedy. They held him until law enforcement arrived and took him into custody.
The sequence of events leading to this unspeakable tragedy began with Reuben’s growing frustration over his neighbors’ target shooting in their yard. Despite repeated complaints to local authorities and directly confronting the neighbors, no legal actions were taken against the family as they were not breaking any laws and were conducting their activities a considerable distance from Reuben’s property. Reuben’s agitation culminated in a breach of peace charge against him just two days before the shooting. The nature of his grievance was centered around the perceived nuisance caused by the target practice, yet no other neighbors had lodged complaints about the activities.
As the community grappled with the horror of the shooting, it was revealed that Leonard had also killed his own wife, Felicia. Her body was discovered with a gunshot wound in their garage shortly after the incident. The reason behind this act remains unclear, as authorities have indicated that Leonard was not suffering from dementia or any identifiable mental illness that could explain his actions. Leonard was treated for injuries sustained when the neighbors detained him and was subsequently booked into the regional detention center. Facing two counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder, he was denied bond during his initial court appearance due to the gravity of the offenses.
This incident has left the community in shock and mourning, particularly impacting the family and friends of young Ashly. An online fundraiser has been set up to cover her funeral expenses and to aid her father’s recovery, both physically and emotionally. Sheriff A. Dennis, expressed his deep sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the commitment of his team to thorough investigative work to bring justice to the victims. As the case progresses, with another hearing scheduled for June 6, the community seeks closure and justice for the senseless violence that took two lives and altered many others forever. The repercussions of this tragedy continue to ripple through the community, highlighting the profound impact of unresolved disputes and the importance of community awareness and mental health support.
