Business owner shot, killed

The Newberry Police Department, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Newberry County Coroner’s Office responded to Leslie’s Hair Salon, 2509 Main St., after a family member found the owner dead in a back room Wednesday afternoon.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_crimescene3.jpgThe Newberry Police Department, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Newberry County Coroner’s Office responded to Leslie’s Hair Salon, 2509 Main St., after a family member found the owner dead in a back room Wednesday afternoon. Elyssa Parnell | The Newberry Observer

Main Street was blocked off Turner to Copeland streets Wednesday afternoon as the investigation continued.

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_crimescene4.jpgMain Street was blocked off Turner to Copeland streets Wednesday afternoon as the investigation continued. Elyssa Parnell | The Newberry Observer

Ruff

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Kenny-Octavis-Ruff.jpgRuff Elyssa Parnell | The Newberry Observer

NEWBERRY — A Newberry man remained in jail without bond Thursday night, charged with the shooting death of a well-respected business owner in the Hispanic community.

Roberto Facio-Ledesma, 41, of Newberry, was found around 2 p.m. Wednesday by a family member in a back room of Leslie’s Hair Salon, 2509 Main St.

Kenny Octavis Ruff, 32, of 1113 Turner St, was taken into custody without incident that night on C.R. Koon Highway just outside of Prosperity after an officer with the Newberry Police Department spotted a vehicle investigators believed Ruff was using.

“There was a collaborative effort between the Newberry County Sheriff’s Department, SLED and the Newberry County Coroner’s Office to develop a suspect and get him arrested so quickly,” Interim Police Chief Roy McClurkin said. “We appreciate their effort and great working relationship.”

Ruff was charged with murder, armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, McClurkin said. McClurkin said the motive was robbery and that Ruff was the only person involved.

Newberry County Coroner Craig Newton said Facio-Ledesma died of a single gunshot wound to the head around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. An autopsy performed Thursday listed the official cause of death as a laceration to the brain.

This marks the second homicide in Newberry County this year.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was called to process the scene Wednesday along with their bloodhound tracking team, McClurkin said.

“After an investigation lasting throughout the day, we developed a suspect based on evidence that we found from businesses in the area that had video surveillance,” McClurkin said. “One of our officers recognized the vehicle that we had received information he was traveling in and was able to stop that vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident.”

Ruff took property from the business during the robbery, McClurkin said, and investigators recovered some of it Thursday morning. McClurkin declined to elaborate on what it was.

McClurkin said there is no indication that Facio-Ledesma and Ruff knew one another. Ruff has a prior conviction for armed robbery and was released in May 2014, the chief said.

Newton said Facio-Ledesma was well known and respected among the Hispanic community and the downtown merchants. He leaves behind a wife and daughter, both of Newberry.

“We are sorry for their loss,” McClurkin said. “He was a well-respected business owner in the community.”