Wyoming Boy’s Shocking Crime: Mom Murdered

A 14-year-old Wyoming boy now faces life in prison after allegedly shooting his mother in the back of the head during an argument over a stolen tablet, exposing a catastrophic failure in parental discipline and firearm security that cost a mother her life.

Story Snapshot

Havoc Leone, 14, charged with first-degree murder and tried as an adult after fatally shooting his mother Theresa McIntosh over a stolen tablet argument
Leone had stolen the firearm from his mother’s car a week earlier following a fight about his math grades, revealing dangerous access to unsecured weapons
Medical evidence contradicted initial suicide classification, prompting homicide investigation that uncovered the teen’s admission
The case highlights the devastating consequences of failing to address behavioral problems and secure firearms in homes with troubled youth

Fatal Argument Over Stolen Electronics

Havoc Leone shot his mother, 41-year-old Theresa McIntosh, on March 7, 2026, at their Cheyenne, Wyoming home after she confronted him about stealing a tablet from one of her clients. Court documents reveal McIntosh asked Leone to finish his homework while she worked in his room around 11:30 a.m. when the argument escalated. During the confrontation, McIntosh called her son “retarded” and a “thief,” which angered Leone. He retrieved a gun hidden in his bedroom and shot her in the back of the head as she bent down to pick up a notebook.

Pattern of Theft and Escalating Defiance

Leone demonstrated a documented history of stealing electronic devices prior to the fatal shooting. The tablet that sparked the deadly confrontation was just one in a series of thefts, with court records indicating the teenager had repeatedly stolen electronics. His parents had discovered the latest theft and discussed it, which Leone overheard, triggering his anger. Approximately one week before the shooting, Leone had taken the firearm from his mother’s vehicle following what investigators described as a “big fight” about his math grades, showing a dangerous pattern of escalating defiance and access to deadly weapons.

Unsecured Firearm Access Proves Deadly

The black Taurus 9mm handgun used in the shooting was typically stored in McIntosh’s vehicle with a loaded magazine but without a round chambered. Leone’s ability to access, remove, and conceal this weapon demonstrates a critical failure in firearm security. Leone’s father confirmed to investigators that his son understood firearm safety and “knows not to point a firearm at someone unless he plans to shoot and kill them,” making the shooting appear deliberate rather than accidental. This knowledge of proper firearm handling undermines any claim of unintentional discharge and strengthens the first-degree murder charge against the teenager.

Investigation Reveals Homicide After Initial Misclassification

Authorities initially investigated McIntosh’s death as a suicide due to the gunshot wound location, but medical personnel and police officers raised suspicions that prompted further investigation. Hospital staff determined the wound behind and above the right ear near the neck did not appear to be a “contact wound” typical in firearm suicides, and no exit wound was observed. Leone’s father, who was in the basement wearing noise-cancelling headphones during the shooting, heard only a “pop” sound he thought was a balloon bursting. He discovered McIntosh unresponsive around 12:50 p.m. and called 911. She was airlifted to UC Health in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she died later that day.

Teenage Killer Faces Adult Consequences

Leone has been charged with felony first-degree murder and will be tried as an adult despite being only 14 years old. His bond has been set at $500,000, and if convicted, he faces life in prison. According to court documents, Leone told police he shot his mother with her own firearm following the argument about the tablet. He later changed his story when speaking to his father, claiming the gun “just went off,” though his demonstrated knowledge of firearm safety contradicts this assertion. The decision to try Leone as an adult reflects the severity of the crime and the calculated nature of retrieving a hidden weapon during an argument.

This tragedy illustrates the devastating consequences when parents fail to adequately address behavioral problems in troubled youth and secure firearms properly. Leone’s pattern of theft, defiance, and anger should have triggered intervention long before he gained access to a deadly weapon. The case serves as a stark reminder that firearm security is not optional in homes with minors, particularly those exhibiting behavioral issues. Parents must take responsibility for both disciplining their children effectively and ensuring weapons remain completely inaccessible. The breakdown in parental authority and firearm security cost Theresa McIntosh her life and destroyed what remained of her family, leaving a father without a wife and a son facing life imprisonment for an act of violence that proper precautions could have prevented.