A Community in Mourning: Remembering Ashly McFarland, 11, and the Tragedy That Shook Us All
“There is no footprint too small to leave an imprint on this world.”
In a world already burdened by noise and unrest, a quiet, unimaginable tragedy has left a family shattered and a community reeling. Ashly McFarland, just 11 years old, lost her life in a place where she should have felt safest — a home filled with family, laughter, and love.
On what should have been a normal day, the McFarland home — filled with ten loved ones gathered together — became the scene of an unthinkable act of violence. Reuben Leonard, armed with a rifle, walked from his nearby residence and forced his way into the house, opening fire in a moment of chaos and horror. In the face of unimaginable fear, family members acted with immense bravery, ultimately tackling and disarming Leonard, preventing further tragedy.
But for Ashly, it was too late. She didn’t make it.
An innocent life, full of promise and light, was taken far too soon.
Ashly was only 11, but in that short time, she had already left her mark on those around her. With a smile that could brighten a room and a heart as big as her dreams, she was a beloved daughter, grandchild, sibling, and friend. Her laughter was infectious. Her curiosity about the world was endless. She loved freely, played joyfully, and made every day feel a little bit better for those lucky enough to be around her.
The grief now felt by her family is indescribable — a deep and aching sorrow no parent, no sibling, no grandparent should ever have to endure. And yet, in their grief, they have shown courage and strength in the face of senseless violence.
The horror didn’t end there. In the aftermath, authorities learned that just days before the shooting, Leonard had been charged with disturbing the peace — a red flag that now seems like a distant warning. After the home invasion, Leonard admitted to killing his 76-year-old wife in their own residence, a second devastating revelation in a case still without answers or clear motive.
There is no clear reason, no explanation that can make sense of such loss, no comfort strong enough to mend the hearts broken in Ashly’s absence. What remains is a wave of grief, a community left searching for peace, and a family whose world has been turned inside out.
As the investigation continues and more details emerge, we stand with the grieving — not only in mourning for young Ashly, but in the resolve to protect and uplift one another in times of darkness.
To honor Ashly’s memory, let us say her name with love. Let us remember her for the joy she brought into the world, the innocence she carried, and the countless lives she touched in her short time with us. Let her life not be defined by the way it ended, but by the light she brought to this world while she was here.
We extend our deepest condolences to Ashly’s family and the many others impacted by this tragic act. May they find strength in each other, healing in time, and the support of a community that refuses to let them walk this path alone.
Rest peacefully, Ashly McFarland.
You were deeply loved. You will never be forgotten.