A disturbing case in Wyoming has drawn national attention after a 14-year-old boy was accused of shooting and killing his mother. Authorities say the teenager used his mother’s own gun during the incident and will now face serious charges in adult court.
The case has raised concerns about family conflicts, access to firearms, and the growing number of juveniles being prosecuted as adults in violent crimes.
Teen accused of shooting his mother
The incident happened on March 7 at a home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Deputies from the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting at the residence.
When officers arrived, they found 41-year-old Theresa McIntosh with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. She was still alive but unconscious when emergency responders reached the scene.
Due to the severity of her injuries, McIntosh was airlifted to a hospital in Colorado for emergency treatment. Unfortunately, she died the following day on March 8.
Teen initially claimed it was suicide
Authorities quickly began investigating the shooting. A juvenile at the scene — later identified as 14-year-old Havoc Leone — was taken into custody.
According to investigators, Leone first told deputies that his mother had killed herself. However, police say he soon changed his story during questioning.
Court documents later revealed details of what the teenager allegedly told investigators about the incident.
Alleged confession to investigators
According to police reports, Leone admitted that he shot his mother while she was on the floor working on a puzzle.
Investigators said he told them he fired a single shot into the back of her head.
Police also stated that the teen admitted he was angry shortly before the shooting and said he felt unable to express how much he hated his mother.
Authorities claim Leone told them he had thought about killing his mother before, especially when she forced him to do things he did not want to do.
Argument over grades led to earlier conflict
Investigators believe the situation had been building for some time.
About a week before the shooting, Leone and his mother reportedly argued about his school performance. According to court documents, the teenager had received a D in math.
During that conflict, Leone allegedly took his mother’s Taurus 9 mm handgun from her vehicle and hid it in one of his boots in his bedroom.
Police say the gun was still hidden there until the day of the shooting.
Dispute on the day of the shooting
On the day of the incident, another argument reportedly occurred inside the home.
Authorities say McIntosh and her common-law husband — who is Leone’s father — confronted the teenager because they suspected him of stealing a tablet from one of his mother’s cleaning clients.
During the argument, McIntosh allegedly called her son a “thief” and accused him of wrongdoing.
She reportedly demanded that he provide the password to the tablet, which was written in a notebook in his bedroom.
Gun retrieved along with notebook
According to investigators, when Leone went to his room to get the notebook, he also took the gun he had hidden earlier.
Police say he returned to the room where his mother was working on a puzzle.
Leone allegedly threw the notebook at his mother. When she bent down to pick it up, investigators say he raised the gun with both hands and fired one shot.
The bullet struck McIntosh in the back of the head.
Father heard gunshot from another room
At the time of the shooting, Leone’s father was in the basement playing video games while wearing noise-canceling headphones.
He later told police that he heard a popping sound and went upstairs to check what had happened.
When he reached the room, he saw his son nearby and his wife badly injured.
According to investigators, the teenager reportedly told his father that the gun “just went off.”
Father called emergency services
After realizing what had happened, the father called 911 and tried to help McIntosh.
Police reports say he held a towel against the head wound while waiting for emergency responders.
He also noticed the gun lying on the floor nearby. The father reportedly told police he was surprised to see it because he believed the firearm was kept in his wife’s vehicle.
During questioning, the father told investigators he suspected what might have happened but struggled to accept it.
According to reports, he said it would be easier to believe that the shooting was suicide rather than think his son had done it.
Teen charged as an adult
Prosecutors have charged Havoc Leone with first-degree murder.
Although he is only 14 years old, authorities decided that the seriousness of the case justified trying him as an adult.
If convicted, the charge carries extremely serious penalties under Wyoming law.
According to reports, Leone is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.
His next court appearance is scheduled for March 18.
