Wyoming Teen Faces Adult Murder Charges After Allegedly Shooting Mother
A 14-year-old boy identified as Havoc Leone has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder in Laramie County, Wyoming, following the fatal shooting of his mother, Theresa McIntosh. Prosecutors allege the teenager retrieved a handgun he had secretly taken from his mother's vehicle and shot her in the back of the head during a heated argument inside their rural home.
Escalating Dispute Leads to Tragic Violence
According to a sworn affidavit written by Laramie County Sheriff's Office Deputy Miles DePrimo, the confrontation began approximately ninety minutes before the shooting. The dispute centered on an electronic tablet that Leone had taken from a home where his mother worked cleaning houses. McIntosh and her common-law husband, who is also Leone's father, confronted the teenager about the device.
During the argument, prosecutors state that McIntosh accused her son of stealing and called him derogatory names, including using what authorities refer to as the "r-word." The affidavit indicates Leone told investigators he became upset by these accusations and questioned whether the insult was true.
Deliberate Actions Described in Affidavit
Initially, the teenager provided investigators with a different account, suggesting there had been a struggle over the weapon and that the gun might have discharged accidentally. However, as questioning continued, prosecutors say Leone described a far more deliberate sequence of events.
The affidavit reveals that Leone admitted taking a black Taurus 9mm handgun from his mother's vehicle glove compartment approximately one week earlier, following another argument that began after he received a "D" grade in mathematics. He concealed the firearm inside a boot in his bedroom closet.
On the day of the shooting, when McIntosh asked for the password to the tablet, Leone went to retrieve a notebook containing the password from his closet. Prosecutors allege he simultaneously grabbed the hidden handgun, keeping it concealed at his side as he tossed the notebook toward his mother.
As McIntosh bent down while continuing to argue with him, the teenager allegedly raised the weapon and, holding it with both hands, shot her in the back of the head.
Father Discovers Tragic Scene
Leone's father was present in the home during the incident but had gone to the basement following the earlier argument. According to the affidavit, he was wearing noise-suppressing headphones while playing video games when he heard what sounded like a faint popping noise, which he initially thought might be a balloon.
When he went upstairs to investigate, he found his son standing outside the bedroom looking panicked. The teenager allegedly told him, "I don't know, it just went off." The father immediately called emergency services.
Upon entering the bedroom, investigators say he discovered McIntosh lying unresponsive on the floor with significant injuries. He attempted to stop the bleeding by pressing a towel against her head and noted the firearm lying nearby, which confused him as he believed the weapon was normally kept in his wife's vehicle.
Investigation Reveals Contradictory Evidence
Law enforcement officials noted that the firearm's safety was engaged and that the wound pattern did not match a suicide scenario. During questioning, the father expressed difficulty processing what the evidence suggested, stating, "I don't want to think what I think happened... It'd be a lot easier to accept that she killed herself than my son tried to kill her."
Emergency responders transported McIntosh to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center before she was airlifted to UCHealth in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she later died from her injuries on the same day.
Community Mourns Vibrant Life
As news of the tragedy spread, colleagues and friends began sharing tributes to McIntosh online, remembering her as a vibrant presence in the Cheyenne community. Staff at The Garden Salon and Spa, where she worked as a massage therapist, posted a heartfelt message mourning her loss.
"The world lost a great light this past weekend. Our Massage Therapist & friend, Theresa McIntosh," the business wrote in a public tribute. "Theresa was a dedicated mother & Jane of all trades. She was incredibly intelligent and well read. She was fiercely loyal to the small businesses that she loved."
The post described her love of animals, books, music, and helping others, noting she had "a knack for cleaning and leaving spaces better than she found them." The salon added that it would help connect grieving friends with support resources during this difficult time.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Havoc Leone now faces a charge of first-degree murder and is being prosecuted as an adult in Wyoming's judicial system. Court records indicate a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, in Laramie County Circuit Court, where further details of this tragic case will likely emerge.
