UPDATED: 11-year-old shot, killed, after Sumter suspect's wife killed 1 block away; man in custody

A 76-year-old woman and then an 11-year-old child were shot and killed late Wednesday night in the city and county of Sumter, respectively, and one man is in custody.

Sumter County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a home on Floyd Drive after a man entered a Sumter County home and opened fire, according to Mark Bordeaux with the sheriff’s office.

At approximately 10:32 p.m. on April 16, Sumter County Dispatch received a report of a shooting on Floyd Drive. Witnesses reported that a neighbor, identified as Reuben Arthur Leonard, 80, entered the residence and began firing a weapon.

Deputies arrived at the scene to find that the child had suffered a gunshot wound and Leonard being restrained by family members. Emergency Medical Services attempted lifesaving measures, but the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Leonard was taken into custody and told deputies he had killed his wife before the shooting on Floyd Drive. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office notified Sumter Police Department, which responded to Leonard’s residence and found his wife deceased.

Sumter Police Department reported in a news release that the 76-year-old woman was found dead in the garage of a home one block over, on Saltwood Road in the city.

Leonard was transported by EMS to an area hospital for treatment of injuries. Upon his release, he will be booked into Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. He is expected to recover and is being charged by Sumter Police Department with murder as the investigations continue, according to Tonyia McGirt with the police department.

According to the Sumter County Third Judicial Circuit Public Index, Leonard was arrested on Monday, April 14, 2025, and charged with breach of peace, nonaggravated in nature.

Sumter County Coroner’s Office responded to both incidents and has notified the respective families, according to the police department. Autopsies are scheduled.

“This is a horrific incident, and our investigators are working diligently to uncover all the details,” said Sheriff Anthony Dennis. “More information will be released as it becomes available.”

The sheriff's office will hold a news conference about the shootings at 1 p.m. Thursday, according to Bordeaux.

The investigation remains ongoing.