DANVILLE- Monday, May 5, at approximately 12:55 p.m., Hendricks County Deputies shot an armed man outside the Hendricks County Courthouse. At the request of the Hendricks County Sheriff, the Indiana State Police are investigating this incident.
Two Hendricks County Deputies Zachary Emmitt and Nathan Phillips, were transporting inmates from the Hendricks County Jail to court proceedings at the Hendricks County Courthouse. Upon their arrival outside the courthouse, they unloaded the inmates and began walking as a group toward the doors to enter the courthouse. As the deputies and inmates approached the courthouse, they were allegedly confronted by a man who pulled a gun from his clothing and pointed it toward them. The man fired at least one shot. Deputies returned shots toward the suspect. The suspect was pronounced deceased a short time later at the scene. None of the deputies, inmates, or people in the area were injured in this incident.Â
After the shooting, the deputies worked to get the inmates to a safe area. Other officers responded to the scene to assist.
The deceased man, identified as 65-year-old Mark Vawter of Plainfield, Indiana, was outside the courthouse before the arrival of the transport van.
Deputies Emmitt and Phillips were placed on administrative leave per the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office’s standard protocol.Â
Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators remain on the scene to collect and analyze evidence.
ISP Detectives are working closely with investigators from the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office, Danville Police Department, the Hendricks County Coroner and the Hendricks County Prosecutor,. There is no further information to release at this time.
