In the early morning of March 7, 2026, 15-year-old Leo Scott Epting was found shot in the middle of Tanglewood Way in Gray Court, South Carolina. Deputies from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a gunshot victim at about 5:30 a.m.; Leo died at the scene despite first responders’ efforts. He was a freshman at Laurens District High School and is remembered by family as adventurous, with interests in hunting, fishing, dirt bikes, and martial arts where he held a first-degree black belt.

The investigation identified two suspects. Eighteen-year-old Ryan Ingersoll of Charlotte was arrested and charged with murder, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime; he was denied bond at his initial Laurens County court appearance. A second, unnamed juvenile was taken into custody in North Carolina and is awaiting extradition. Multiple agencies, including the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, SLED Child Fatality Task Force, the Laurens County Coroner’s Office, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Homicide Unit, and the Violent Crime Apprehension Team, are involved. The motive has not been publicly released.

If anyone in the Gray Court area that morning saw activity on or near Tanglewood Way or has information about the incident, please come forward.