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Larry Vaughan

Age : 54

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 07/23/2021

Location : Apartment complex in downtown Rock Hill

City : Rock Hill

County : York

State : South Carolina

Agency : Chester County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Former Deputy Evan Hawthorne

Cause of Death : Beaten/bludgeoned

Event : Officer beaten to death by fellow officer

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/23/2021, retired Rock Hill Police Department Lieutenant Larry Vaughan was found beaten to death inside his apartment in downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina. Earlier that evening, Vaughan had spent several hours drinking with Chester County Sheriff's Office Deputy Evan Hawthorne at a downtown bar. Although the two had only recently become acquainted, they discussed law enforcement and personal experiences during the evening.
According to evidence presented at trial, an argument developed between the two men, reportedly involving Hawthorne's comments about suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Surveillance video showed the pair engaged in a physical altercation outside the bar before they embraced and left together. Prosecutors alleged Hawthorne later followed Vaughan to his apartment, where he assaulted him, inflicting fatal blunt force injuries. Hawthorne maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Investigators with the Rock Hill Police Department identified Hawthorne as the primary suspect through surveillance footage, witness interviews, and physical evidence. Prosecutors presented evidence that Hawthorne attempted to conceal his involvement after leaving the apartment, including discarding clothing and shoes that were later recovered by investigators. He was arrested shortly after the killing and charged with murder.
On 09/02/2025, a York County jury found former Deputy Evan Hawthorne guilty of murdering Larry Vaughan. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Larry Vaughan had served more than three decades with the Rock Hill Police Department before retiring in 2020. During his career, he served as a patrol officer, K-9 officer, firearms instructor, SWAT commander, and lieutenant. Colleagues remembered him as a respected leader and mentor whose death deeply affected the law enforcement community throughout the region.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wbtv.com/2025/09/03/former-chester-county-deputy-convicted-murdering-retired-rock-hill-police-lieutenant/
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article311939946.html
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/former-chester-county-deputy-convicted-for-killing-retired-police-lieutenant/275-6877d816-f572-40b0-a3e0-0f3c82f/
https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/crime/article311886830.html