An 18-year-old from Charlotte is now at the center of a homicide case that has shaken a Gray Court neighborhood, after deputies say a 15-year-old boy was found shot in the middle of the street early last Saturday morning. The victim, later identified as Leo Scott Epting, was discovered in the roadway on Tanglewood Way and did not survive. Investigators say a juvenile suspect has been detained in North Carolina and is awaiting extradition, while the adult suspect, identified as Ryan Ingersoll, appeared in Laurens County court on Thursday and was denied bond.
Arrest and investigation
According to a press release from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Tanglewood Way at about 5:30 a.m. and found an individual in the roadway who later died. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 15-year-old Leo Scott Epting. Investigators say Ingersoll was arrested and booked on charges that include murder, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The sheriff’s office said the SLED Child Fatality Task Force and the coroner’s office assisted deputies at the scene and in the early stages of the investigation.
Court and family response
Local reporting states that Ingersoll’s first court appearance in Laurens County on Thursday ended with a denial of bond. During that hearing, Leo’s mother addressed the court and told the judge the family’s “lives changed completely,” according to Fox Carolina. Laurens County School District 55 confirmed the student’s death and said in a statement shared with local outlets that mental health counselors were made available to students and staff in the aftermath of the shooting.
Law-enforcement partners assisting the probe
Regional coverage has noted that the sheriff publicly thanked Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department homicide investigators and the Violent Crime Apprehension Team for their help tracking the case across state lines. WYFF and other local outlets have continued to follow developments, and earlier coverage of the arrests also appeared in GoLaurens.
Charges and next steps
The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office said the juvenile suspect’s charges have not been released while extradition from North Carolina is pending, and prosecutors will decide on formal filings as the investigation moves forward. Authorities have asked the public to respect the family’s privacy while also urging anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office. Officials say more details will be released as they are able and as the case proceeds through the courts.
