A tragic unfolding at the Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville yesterday saw a man shot dead by deputies after he reportedly opened fire just before 1 p.m. The deceased, identified as 65-year-old Mark Vawter, was said by family to have been targeting an inmate involved in a car crash that claimed the lives of his great-grandchildren. According to FOX59, the shooting occurred as deputies were transporting inmates from jail and had parked their van outside the courthouse.
The confrontation resulted in both deputies discharging their weapons, with at least one of their shots striking Vawter, who died at the scene. Vawter was the great-grandfather of two young children, 3-year-old Ares and his 2-month-old sister, Iris, who perished in a fiery crash on Feb 5 after their car was hit during a police chase. WTHR relayed confirmation from the family about Vawter's identity and his tragic connection to the children.
In an update provided by the Indiana State Police, no officers, inmates, or bystanders were injured during the incident. They have also assured that there is no further threat to public safety following the securement of the scene. As per the protocols for police-involved shootings, the courthouse offices were closed and the ISP has commenced a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. This information was detailed in a report from WRTV.
