Charlotte Teenager Charged in "Despicable" Murder of 15-Year-Old South Carolina Student

18-year-old Ryan Ingersoll of Charlotte faces murder and armed robbery charges in the death of a South Carolina teen. Read the latest on the investigation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Charlotte Observer.

A Tragic Discovery in Rural South Carolina

The investigation began around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, when Laurens County deputies responded to reports of a gunshot victim on Tanglewood Way in Gray Court. Upon arrival, law enforcement located an individual lying in the roadway. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as Leo Scott Epting, a student at Laurens District 55 High School. The location of the shooting is approximately 105 miles southwest of uptown Charlotte.

Arrests and Serious Felony Charges

Ryan Ingersoll was apprehended and faces several severe charges, including murder, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds characterized the killing as a "despicable act" and a "tragic and unnecessary loss of a young life." While Ingersoll is in custody, a second suspect—identified only as a juvenile—is currently being held in North Carolina pending extradition to South Carolina to face related charges.

Inter-Agency Cooperation

The resolution of the initial phase of the investigation relied heavily on cooperation between South Carolina authorities and North Carolina law enforcement. Sheriff Reynolds specifically credited the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide unit and the Violent Crime Apprehension Team (VCAT) for their assistance in locating and detaining the suspects. Due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, specific details regarding the motive for the shooting or the relationship between the suspects and the victim have not been made public.