Newberry County coroner ID’s victim shot, killed at hair salon; Police identify suspect

The Newberry County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim whose body was found Wednesday afternoon at a Newberry hair salon.

Coroner Craig Newton said 41-year-old Roberto Facio-Ledesma, the owner of the Leslie Hair Salon, died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Facio-Ledesma, Newton said, leaves behind a wife and daughter, both of Newberry, and was well known and respected among the Hispanic community and among other downtown merchants.

Interim Police Chief Roy McClurkin told local media that a family member found the victim dead in the shop, which is located in the 2500 block of Main Street in Newberry, around 2 p.m. Wednesday when they stopped by to drop off lunch.

Police have arrested 32-year-old Kenny Octavis Ruff of Newberry and charged him with murder and armed robbery in connection with the investigation. Ruff was being held in the Newberry County jail. It was not clear if he has a lawyer.

Ruff was taken into custody outside Prosperity Wednesday evening, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The Newberry police, sheriff’s office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the coroner’s office will continue to investigate the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story was originally published August 26, 2015 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Newberry County coroner ID’s victim shot, killed at hair salon; Police identify suspect."