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Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Great-grandpa of slain kids shoots at inmates, is killed by cops, IN police says
National Great-grandpa of slain kids shoots at inmates, is killed by cops, IN police says An Indiana man was shot and killed by deputies after he opened fire on a group of inmates and deputies walking into a courthouse, police say. Screengrab by WXIN. The great-grandfather of two kids who died in a crash during a police chase is dead after authorities said he shot at a group of inmates and deputies in Indiana, news outlets reported. On May 5, Mark Vawter stood outside of the Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville armed with a gun, according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. Just before 1 p.m., a Hendricks County Sheriff's Office van pulled up to the courthouse with a group of inmates who were being transported from the jail to court, state police said. As the inmates and deputies began walking toward the courthouse, Vawter pulled a gun out of his clothing, pointed it at them and fired one shot, according to authorities. Deputies returned fire, and Vawter was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. According to family members, Vawter's two great-grandchildren, 2-month-old Iris and 3-year-old Ares, were killed in a February crash involving a police chase in Avon, WXIN reported. Iris and Ares Vawter were killed in a crash in February in Indiana. Screengrab from Jack Vawter's Facebook post. On Feb. 5, police attempted to pull over S'Doni Pettis, but he sped into an intersection, slamming into the vehicle Iris and Ares were in, causing it to flip down the road and burst into flames, according to the news outlet, citing witnesses and police. Pettis was scheduled to be in court May 5, but his hearing was rescheduled for June 2, court records show. But Vawter's family members believe he may not have known the hearing was rescheduled and may have been targeting Pettis, WXIN reported. 'We can't say for certain why he was there. Right now, we are working with the police to help figure it out. Nobody had heard anything from him that would have led us to raise any flags,' the kids' mother, Jack Vawter, told WTHR. The Hendricks County Sheriff's Office told McClatchy News in an email that the Indiana State Police is handling the investigation. The two deputies who fired their weapons during the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, according to police. Pettis is charged with resisting law enforcement, causing death when operating a motor vehicle, causing catastrophic injury when operating a motor vehicle, conversion and auto theft, according to court records. Danville is about a 20-mile drive west from Indianapolis. Jennifer Rodriguez mcclatchy-newsroom Go to X Go to Facebook Email this person 330-781-1998 Jennifer Rodriguez is a McClatchy National Real-Time reporter covering the Central and Midwest regions. She joined McClatchy in 2023 after covering local news in Youngstown, Ohio, for over six years. Jennifer has made several achievements in her journalism career, including receiving the Robert R. Hare Award in English, the Emerging Leader Justice and Equality Award, the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Father, 27, Dies After Coming into Contact with Live Power Lines During Storm
A 27-year-old father from Indiana has died after he came into contact with power lines that were brought down in a storm, authorities said. On Wednesday, April 2, Nathan Merritt was driving his pickup truck when he struck downed power lines that were blocking the roadway in his hometown of Danville amid a storm, the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. When Merritt got out of his truck, he 'came into contact with the live power lines,' according to the sheriff's office. When deputies arrived at the scene after 9:30 p.m. local time, they found Merritt's Dodge truck on fire. Merritt was discovered on the ground near the truck, but officials were not able to approach him until the power company shut off the power. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation into his death is ongoing, according to the sheriff's office. Related: At Least 6 Dead as Tornadoes Barrel Through U.S. and People Brace for 'Catastrophic' Flooding Related: Mich. Firefighter Dead from Fallen Power Line as Thousands Are Without Power amid Winter Storm The young father, who was a sound and production director for Warrior Pro Wrestling, is reported to be at least one of seven known people who have died as severe weather has devastated cities and towns across the U.S., from the Midwest to the mid-South this week, according to NBC News. For some states, the dangerous weather is expected to continue into the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a warning for Friday, April 4, through Sunday, April 6, of a 'life-threatening, catastrophic, and potentially historic flash flood event' that will continue to hit the Lower Ohio Valley and Mid-South to the Lower Mississippi Valley. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Meanwhile, Warrior Pro Wrestling is mourning Merritt's untimely death. 'Our WPW family will miss his smile, excitement, and dedication to not just our show but to independent wrestling across the state,' Merritt's employer wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday, April 3. 'Prayers are with his son Tatum and the entire Merritt family.' Read the original article on People
