Charlotte Teen Arrested in South Carolina in Gray Court Shooting Death of 15-Year-Old Student
Charges filed after early-morning shooting in Laurens County
An 18-year-old from Charlotte has been charged with murder and other felonies in connection with the shooting death of a Gray Court teenager in Laurens County, South Carolina. Investigators also arrested a juvenile suspect, authorities said, as the case shifted from an early-morning death investigation to a multi-agency manhunt and arrest operation spanning state lines.
The victim was identified as 15-year-old Leo Epting, described by authorities as a student in Laurens County School District 55. Deputies were dispatched to Tanglewood Lane in Gray Court at about 5:30 a.m. on Saturday and found Epting in the roadway near his home with a gunshot wound, authorities said.
Who was charged and what authorities say happened next
The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office announced that Ryan Ingersoll, 18, of Charlotte, and a juvenile suspect were arrested by investigators. Ingersoll is charged with murder, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, authorities said.
Ingersoll was booked into the Johnson Detention Center on Tuesday, authorities said.
Bond was denied for Ingersoll, authorities said.
The juvenile suspect was reported to be awaiting extradition from North Carolina; the juvenile’s specific charges were not released.
Authorities characterized the case as a “tragic and unnecessary loss” and said the arrests followed an intensive investigation supported by multiple agencies.
Multi-agency investigation and cross-state coordination
Authorities said the investigation involved the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office alongside the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Child Fatality Task Force and the Laurens County Coroner’s Office. The sheriff’s office also cited assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s homicide resources and its Violent Criminal Apprehension Team during the investigative effort.
The charges filed against Ingersoll indicate investigators are alleging the homicide occurred in the context of an armed robbery and coordinated criminal activity. Under South Carolina law, armed robbery is a distinct felony and criminal conspiracy generally refers to an alleged agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act; prosecutors typically rely on investigative findings to establish that connection in court.
What comes next in court
Ingersoll’s case is expected to proceed through South Carolina’s criminal court process, where prosecutors must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. The juvenile case will follow separate procedures and may involve additional legal protections and confidentiality requirements.
Authorities have not publicly released a detailed account of what led to the shooting, nor have they disclosed a motive. Further details are expected to emerge through court filings and hearings as the case advances.