Latest news with #Vawter
New York Post
08-05-2025
- New York Post
Armed vigilante gunned down by cops in failed revenge hit on suspect who killed his young great-grandkids
An armed man on a vigilante mission to avenge the killing of his great-grandchildren was gunned down in a chaotic shootout with deputies escorting inmates in front of an Indiana courthouse Tuesday, according to family and officials. The 65-year-old shooter, Mark Vawter, showed up at the Hendricks County Courthouse at 12:55 p.m. with the intention of slaughtering S'Doni Pettis, who's accused of killing Vawter's young grandchildren in a fiery car crash during a February police chase. While trying to evade capture, Pettis, 25, slammed the stolen Honda Civic he was driving into a Ford Explorer containing 3-year-old Ares and 2-month-old Iris, according to court records. Advertisement The youngsters were horribly burned when the Explorer — driven by their dad — exploded into a fireball. 6 Mark Vawter was identified as the armed vigilante killed by police outside the Hendricks County Courthouse on May 6, 2025. Family Handout via WTHR Iris, who had just left her 2-month doctor checkup about 30 minutes before the crash, died at the scene. Good Samaritans and officers heroically pulled Ares out of the inferno. Advertisement He was rushed to the hospital with burns on 60 percent of his body. The family took him off life support a few days later, according to reports. Pettis was supposed to have a court appearance in the vehicular manslaughter case Tuesday, but unbeknownst to Vawter, it had been rescheduled. An armed Vawter was spotted leaning against a courthouse wall when the deputies started to transport the inmates. 6 S'Doni Pettis is suspected in causing the fatal crash while escaping capture from police in February. Avon Police Advertisement He approached and confronted the group, firing off at least one shot shortly after, according to officials and reports. His shot did not hit anyone, but two Hendricks County Sheriff's Deputies, Zachary Emmitt and Deputy Nathan Phillips, returned fire and did not miss. Vawter was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials. 6 Street camera captured the aftermath of the deadly crash at the intersection of U.S. 40 and Ronald Reagan Parkway in Plainfield, Indiana. WRTV Advertisement The great-grandfather spoke with the IndyStar at Riley Hospital for Children just days after the fatal fiery crash, as he was observing a Walk of Honor for little Ares, who became an organ donor after his death. 'It should have been Ares who buried me, not me burying him,' an emotional Vawter said at the time. 'He was so young.' Neighbors suspect Vawter had been planning his revenge for weeks, according to I-Team 8. 6 Indiana State Police investigate the officer-involved shooting outside the courthouse on May 6, 2025. WTHR 6 The two young children, Iris and Ares killed in the February crash. WRTV Dennis and Charlotte Wagoner said they had a disturbing conversation with Vawter weeks before the shootout in which he told them that he didn't have long to live. 'I think that he was planning it, to go over there at the Courthouse and take out that guy who took out his grandkids,' Charlotte Wagoner said. 'It didn't mean anything to me [at the time]. I just thought maybe he was confused or something. The way he put it. It's kind of spooky now,' Dennis Wagoner said. Advertisement 6 The Hendricks County Courthouse where Vawter was killed. Google Maps Prosecutors, citing a 'public safety interest,' now want Pettis to appear remotely for all future court hearings and have requested the court deny the public access to his records, according to CBS4Indy. They argued that giving the public access to Pettis's court dates could 'create the opportunity for further attempts at vigilantism or reprisals,' imperiling the lives of other inmates, deputies and passersby. Advertisement Indiana State Police is conducting an investigation into the shooting at the request of the Hendricks County Sheriff. Cameras in the area captured the shooting, officials said. The two deputies who fatally shot Vawter were placed on administrative leave while the probe is ongoing.
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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
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Deputies shoot, kill armed man while taking inmates into courthouse
Authorities shot and killed an alleged armed man outside of an Indiana courthouse on Monday, according to a spokesperson from the Indiana State Police. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The shooting occurred while two Hendricks County sheriff's deputies were taking a group of inmates to the county courthouse for court proceedings before 1 p.m. TRENDING STORIES: Several police cruisers blocking neighborhood near golf club in Greene County 'Murdered right in front of our eyes;' Family of man who died in jail custody calling for charges 19-month-old girl drowns in Ohio pond Upon arrival, the deputies unloaded the inmates, and the group started walking towards the doors to go inside. At that time, deputies and inmates were allegedly confronted by a 65-year-old man who pulled a gun from his clothes and pointed it at them, according to the spokesperson. The man, who was later identified as Mark Vawter of Plainfield, Indiana, allegedly fired at least one shot at the group. The two deputies then shot in Vawter's direction, the spokesperson said. Vawter was pronounced dead on scene a short time later. After the shooting, the deputies worked to get the inmates to a safe area as other authorities responded to the scene. The spokesperson said investigators learned that Vawter was outside of the courthouse before the deputies and inmates arrived. None of the deputies or inmates were injured in this shooting. The deputies involved in this shooting will be placed on administrative leave per standard protocol, the spokesperson said. This incident remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police. Additional information was not immediately available. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
