Hendricks Co. deputies found justified in fatal Danville courthouse shooting

DANVILLE, Ind. –The Hendricks County deputies involved in a courthouse fatal shooting last month acted lawfully, according to the county’s prosecutor’s office.

On Thursday, the Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release that the two deputies involved in the May 5 shooting outside the Hendricks County Courthouse were clearly justified in the use of deadly force against 65-year-old Mark Vawter. This comes after an investigation by the Indiana State Police.

According to previous reports, Vawter was shot after he reportedly fired a gun as the deputies were transporting several inmates from jail to the courthouse. Family members said at the time that they think he was targeting a person who was charged in the car crash that killed two of his great-grandchildren.

The release said that the investigation found that the two deputies discharged their respective weapons “in accordance with their training to protect lives and the lives of others.” Officials said that Vawter fired a single round, which reportedly struck a nearby light pole and “narrowly missed officers, inmates and civilians.”

“This was a heartbreaking situation,” Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp said in the release. “The loss of Mark Vawter is extremely sad. We understand he was overcome with grief following the tragic loss of his great-grandchildren. While our legal conclusion is clear, the human cost is very real, and our thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Officials said the case is closed and both deputies have been cleared of any wrongdoing.