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Mark Vawter

Gender : Male

Age : 65

Race : Unknown

Date : 05/05/2025

Location : Hendricks County Courthouse

City : Danville

County : Hendricks

State : Indiana

Agency : Hendricks County Sheriff's Office, Indiana State Police

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during courthouse shooting

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On May 5, 2025, 65-year-old Mark Vawter was shot and killed by deputies outside the Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville, Indiana. Vawter, the great-grandfather of two children killed in a February car crash, allegedly opened fire on an inmate transport van. Believing the man charged in the crash, S'Doni Pettis, was inside, Vawter fired at deputies and the vehicle. Deputies returned fire, striking him once. Vawter died at the scene. Pettis was not present, as his hearing had been rescheduled. A gun was recovered at the scene. The Indiana State Police is leading the investigation.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.fox59.com/news/indiana-news/family-man-killed-in-hendricks-county-courthouse-shooting-was-targeting-inmate
https://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/mark-vawter-shot-killed-hendricks-county-courthouse-grandchildren-crash-sdoni-pettis
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2025/05/06/man-killed-by-police-mark-vawter-targeted-suspect-who-killed-grandchildren-in-crash
https://people.com/deputies-fatally-shoot-mark-vawter-great-grandfather-of-children-killed-in-crash-8643852
https://www.wrtv.com/news/public-safety/mark-vawter-killed-by-deputies-after-allegedly-targeting-inmate