Deputies say they were escorting inmates into the courthouse when a man approached with a gun.
DANVILLE, Ind. — A Hendricks County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an armed man outside of the Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville Monday afternoon.
The call came in just before 1 p.m. May 5 near the intersection of Main and Cross streets in Danville. Two deputies were taking multiple inmates from a van and into the courthouse. Indiana State Police say a man at the courthouse pulled a gun and pointed it toward the deputies and inmates, firing at least one shot.
Both deputies shot the man, who was hit at least once. He died at the scene. As of 2:30 p.m., his body was still on the courthouse grounds.
Family confirmed to 13News the man killed was the great-grandfather of two young children who died when a police chase ended in a fiery crash on Feb 5. State police identified him as 65-year-old Mark Vawter, of Plainfield.
State police say Vawter was outside the courthouse before the inmate transport van arrived.
Ares, 3, and 2-month-old Iris died after a car slammed into theirs, which burst into flames.
The suspect in that crash, S’Doni Pettis, was scheduled to be at the Hendricks County Courthouse Monday. He is charged with:
No officers or uninvolved people were hurt in the shooting. Indiana State Police troopers are investigating.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
According to police, the incident was captured on security cameras, but police are still reviewing video.
The Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office said the inmates are not transported on a regular schedule. Deputies moved the inmates to a secure area after the shooting, while other officers arrived to assist at the scene, state police said.
The deputies involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave, per sheriff’s department policy.
