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.The youngsters were horribly burned when the Explorer — driven by their dad — exploded into a fireball. 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. 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.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. 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 Va...