S.C. Man, 80, Allegedly Murders 11-Year-Old Girl — Then Confesses that He Murdered His Wife as Well: Police

A South Carolina Man is accused of murdering his wife and then walking next door and murdering his neighbor’s 11-year-old granddaughter.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s office alleges that Arthur Leonard, 80, walked into his neighbors’ house with an assault rifle on the night of April 16 and began firing at the 10 or 11 people inside the dwelling at that time.

Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner of the SCSO said at a news conference that an “11-year-old girl was shot and killed” in the gunfire.

The Sumter County Coroner’s Office identified the young victim to PEOPLE as Ashly McFarland.

A GoFundMe set up for the family claims that the young girl’s father was also shot while trying to take the shooter down after he opened fire.

Police were called to the house just before 11 p.m. in response to the incident and found family members holding Leonard back, according to the SCSO.

Life-saving measures were performed on the girl by emergency medical technicians, but she was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, said Gardner.

Things took an unexpected turn when deputies brought Leonard in for booking and he allegedly informed them that he’d also murdered his wife, according to the SCSO.

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Deputies notified the Sumter Police Department, who went to perform a welfare check on Leonard’s home and discovered his wife dead in their garage from an apparent gunshot wound.

The Sumter County Coroner’s Office identified that victim as 76-year-old Felicia Leonard.

Gardner said at the press conference that there have been tensions between Leonard and the neighbors for some time because they often practice target shooting in their backyard, which is legal under state law.

Leonard had called the SCSO on numerous occasions to complain about his neighbors, said Deputy Gardner, and many of the deputies were familiar with him and the situation involving his neighbors.

The suspect was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries and the following day booked into the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.

Court records show that deputies had arrested Leonard just two days before the shooting on a breach of peace count.

Leonard does not have a lawyer listed at this time.

Meanwhile, the Sumter School District release a statement about Ashly, writing in part: “She was a bright and joyful student who made a lasting impact on her classmates, teachers, and school community. Her passing is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

Sheriff Anthony Dennis said that his investigators are “working diligently to uncover all the details,” and said that the SCSO will share more information on this “horrific incident” once it becomes available.