The Great-Grandfather of Children Killed in a Car Crash Fatally Shot by Police Outside a Courthouse in Indiana

Man killed by police in courthouse shooting.

Mark Vawter, 65, of Danville, Indiana, was fatally shot by Hendricks County deputies on May 5 after he allegedly opened fire outside the Hendricks County Courthouse. Vawter was the great-grandfather of 2-month-old Iris and 3-year-old Ares, who were killed in a February car crash in Plainfield caused by a fleeing suspect.

On the day of the shooting, S’Donis Pettis, 25—the driver charged in the fatal February crash—was scheduled to appear in court to face charges related to the deaths of the two young children. At approximately 12:55 p.m., as two Hendricks County deputies escorted Pettis and other inmates from jail to the courthouse, Vawter was seen waiting outside.

Vawter children killed in crash.

According to Indiana State Police, Vawter suddenly pulled out a firearm and aimed it toward the group of deputies and inmates. He fired at least one shot before deputies returned fire, killing him on the scene. A gun was recovered near Vawter's body. No deputies, inmates, or bystanders were injured during the incident.

In response to the shooting, the Hendricks County Courthouse was closed for the remainder of the day, and the inmates were rerouted to a different facility. Surveillance cameras in the area captured the shooting, and the Indiana State Police will lead the investigation at the request of the Hendricks County Sheriff. In accordance with department protocol, the deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Mark Vawter

Vawter had previously spoken out publicly in February after the tragic deaths of his great-grandchildren. While attending a Walk of Honor for Ares at Riley Hospital for Children, he said, “It should have been Ares who buried me, not me burying him. He was so young.”

The deadly February crash occurred when Pettis, fleeing from law enforcement, collided with the vehicle carrying Iris and Ares, resulting in both children's deaths. Pettis was facing multiple charges, including those related to vehicular homicide.

S’Doni Pettis

On May 5, shortly after the shooting, residents gathered near the courthouse, where yellow police tape marked off the scene. Local resident Destiny Anderson recalled hearing the gunshots just blocks away from the building. “This is definitely scary,” she said. “I was supposed to just be getting here when all of this happened.”

Danville, located about 25 miles west of Indianapolis along U.S. Highway 36, is a quiet town with a population of under 12,000 residents. The community was shaken by the rare and tragic event.