The man fatally shot by Hendricks County deputies in Danville outside the Hendricks County Courthouse has been identified as Mark Vawter the great-grandfather of two young children killed in a Plainfield car crash in February Vawter's 2-month-old great-granddaughter Iris and her 3-year-old brother Ares died when another driver crashed into the family vehicle at an intersection That driver, S'Donis Pettis, 25, was set to be in court on May 5 to face charges that he had killed the two children two Hendricks County deputies were transporting Pettis and other inmates from jail to the courthouse for their court dates As the deputies and inmates approached the courthouse Vawter pulled out a gun and pointed it toward the group Vawter died at the scene and Indiana State Police later confirmed his identity according to Indiana State Police public information officer Sgt No one else was hurt and the deputies transported the inmates to a different location The Hendricks County Courthouse was closed for the rest of the day Vawter spoke with IndyStar at Riley Hospital for Children as he was observing a Walk of Honor for Ares 'He was so young.': Boy, 3, becomes organ donor after Plainfield crash that killed his sister On May 5 dozens of residents slowly drove by the courthouse that had yellow tape stretched across the yard who has lived in the area since she was 14 said she's "never seen anything like this happen" in Danville She was on her way to the clerk's office to file some paperwork and then heard gunshots from a few blocks away because I was supposed to just be getting here when all of this happened," Anderson said "I was on the other side of the courthouse when I heard gunshots More: Indianapolis police shoot man suspected of double shooting on city's east side Indiana State Police will lead an investigation into the shooting at the request of the Hendricks County Sheriff Per standard protocol for the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office the involved deputies will be placed on administrative leave Danville is located approximately 25 miles west of Indianapolis on U.S Highway 36 and has a population of fewer than 12,000 residents Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X DANVILLE — The Montour County Sheriff’s office says a multi-agency manhunt in the woods near the Red Roof Inn ended without an arrest Authorities say 38-year-old Jesse Wagner of Watsontown fled into the wooded area as officers attempted to apprehend him on a warrant Mahoning Township police were working with the U.S Marshals Fugitive Task Force when Wagner ran Danville and Riverside police joined the effort along with a Berwick Police K9 unit and the Montour County Drone Team Officials say there is no danger to the public and anyone with information should contact law enforcement Written by WKOK Staff People with disabilities can contact Kevin Herr at 570-286-5838 extension 230 for help accessing the WKOK Online Public File by Sam Becker military will be conducting routine training exercises at the Danville Regional Airport on Monday The training exercises will include aircraft operations and will continue throughout the afternoon and evening SEE ALSO: Youngkin signs Virginia budget with $900 million in cuts, fewer amendments passed The first exercise is scheduled from 4:00 p.m and an additional session is planned for later in the evening "These operations are part of standard training procedures and will not involve the general public," said the Danville Fire Department "Please be aware of potential aircraft activity in the area during these times." by Sarah Irby (WSET) — Additional charges had been brought against a North Carolina man accused of shooting a Danville Police Department officer in February was originally charged with attempted capital murder after he allegedly shot Officer Kayla Robinson the Danville Police Department says he has been charged with malicious wounding arson and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony RELATED: Man accused of shooting Danville Police officer waives hearing, case moves to grand jury Degier was being interviewed as a suspect in a hit-and-run crash when the shooting took place in the parking lot of a hotel on Riverside Drive authorities said he pulled a gun and fired at Officer Robinson multiple times Degier waived his right to a preliminary hearing allowing the case to go directly to a grand jury Degier is currently being held in the Danville City Jail without bond According to officials, the exercises will involve aircraft operations and the first exercise is scheduled to last from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Have the day's biggest stories arrive in your inbox every day at 8 p.m. Another training will take place later in the evening and the exercises are routine operations and will not involve the general public. Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Internships at WSLS 10 Careers at WSLS 10 Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group SearchLog in / Sign upAdditional Charges Filed Following February 2025 Officer-Involved Shooting in DanvilleBTW212 hours ago1 min readLucas Jason Degier DANVILLE (BTW21) — Virginia State Police have filed additional charges against 47-year-old Lucas Jason Degier of Wilmington in connection with the February 2025 shooting of Danville Police Department Officer Kayla Robinson who had already been charged with attempted capital murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony The incident occurred when Officer Robinson was interviewing Degier as a suspect in a hit-and-run crash leading to a tense and ongoing investigation by Virginia State Police Officer Robinson sustained injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment Details regarding her current condition have not been released Degier remains in the Danville City Jail without bond No further information is being released at this time as the investigation continues Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact Virginia State Police or the Danville Police Department and the community continues to express support for Officer Robinson and her recovery Bresee Tower's demolition is expected to start this week The Main Street detour route has vehicles taking South Street which also has seen extended lane closures recently for drivers External demolition of Bresee Tower is expected to begin between the afternoon of Thursday and Friday DANVILLE — The about 12,200 vehicles that pass by Bresee Tower on Main Street each day will have to take a detour for the next couple of months as demolition of the historic 12-story structure is expected to start this week all lanes of Main Street and the sidewalk on the north side of the street next to the tower will be closed for Phase 2 of demolition Officials said final preparations and site testing will be performed Tuesday through Thursday and external demolition of the tower is tentatively expected to begin between Thursday afternoon and Friday The closures are expected to last for as long as two months Signs for detours will be posted on Main Street in both directions Motorists are to expect delays when traveling through the detour route and plan accordingly One westbound lane of Main Street has already been closed since 2019 to protect motorists from the tower’s crumbling terra cotta facade The Vermilion County Courthouse and nearby businesses have already been dealing with the closure of Vermilion Street as Phase 1 of the demolition efforts focused on the former courthouse annex connected to the tower the courthouse will remain open and function normally Visitors and those with business at the courthouse are advised to adjust their arrival times to accommodate the expected delays and congestion Access to all downtown businesses will also be available through the entirety of the project Vermilion Street is not expected to experience extended closures during demolition of the tower but given the complexity of the project and the lack of detailed structural drawings for the tower unforeseen conditions may arise that could necessitate additional temporary closures One business asking for the public’s support during this time is the recently opened Revel Bakery & Play Cafe in Towne Centre across Main Street from the tower Owner Ethan Burt said the extended road closure is “fairly concerning.” “There are still so many people that don’t know Revel is even a thing “I recently put yard signs up on Main Street and was getting more people coming saying that’s how they found out about us So that mode of gathering attention is lost for now.” The business posted on social media that is changing its hours “due to economic challenges including the closure of Main Street for two months .. until all of its baked goods are sold from Wednesday through Sunday The business is also seeking larger orders from offices and for events and for people to spread the word about it “The next 60 days are critical,” Burt said “Make an extra point to visit downtown businesses.” Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Search autocomplete is currently not responding The Town of Danville invites local photographers and community members to participate in the Rooted in Danville Photo Contest One in five adults experiences mental health conditions and one in six youth ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder every year Our Summer 2025 Activity Guide is now available to view online This quarterly activity guide focuses on programs classes and events for the entire community Registration for Danville residents begins May 6 and open registration begins May 13 The Town of Danville will debut a new outdoor performance space and kick off National Small Business Week with live music in the heart of Downtown Danville Town Manager Joseph Calabrigo will retire as of June 30 concluding a public service career spanning four decades During the April 15 Town Council meeting and in an announcement sent to Town s.. The Town of Danville is calling on middle and high school students including graduating seniors from the class of 2025 to showcase their creativity through two exciting opportunities.. the Town hosted an informational meeting about the 2025-1 Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District (LLAD) which helps fund the ongoing care of local parks The Danville Town Council has approved Resolution No which initiates a vote on proposed adjustments to the Town’s Lighting .. The Town of Danville invites art enthusiasts to experience Breaking Rules an innovative new exhibition at the Village Theatre Art Gallery The Town of Danville invites residents to bring their skills and dedication to public service by applying for vacancies on various commissions and committees Winning image will be featured on the cover of the Fall 2025 Activity Guide The Town of Danville invites local photographers and community members to participate in the Rooted in Danville Photo Contest Town and City Join Countywide Effort Initiated by Leadership San Ramon Valley Class of 2025 One in five adults experiences mental health conditions and one in six youth ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder every year Free concert series debuts at new Prospect Park Plaza to kick off Small Business Week The Town of Danville will debut a new outdoor performance space and kick off National Small Business Week with live music in the heart of Downtown Joe Calabrigo has served as Town Manager since 1993.?Danville Town Manager Joseph Calabrigo will retire as of June 30 Middle and high school students encouraged to submit films and artwork The Town of Danville is calling on middle and high school students Witness the evolution of art at Breaking Rules from April 12 through June 13 The Town of Danville invites art enthusiasts to experience Breaking Rules Danville property owners to vote on funding for parks landscaping and other amenities. The Danville Town Council has approved Resolution No which initiates a vote on proposed adjustments to the Town’s Lighting .. Apply today and bring your expertise to the Town Danville The Town of Danville invites residents to bring their skills Business Promotion Program offers up to $5,000 per event for promotion of business collaboration. The Danville Town Council has approved a grant program that will allow Danville-based brick and mortar businesses and local organizations to be reim.. Agency Directory This will mark the event’s 10th anniversary, and it will bring tons of deals to avid bargain hunters on everything from antiques to handmade crafts. This weekend, yard sales will be held in residential areas, vacant lots and business parking lots. One area that will be bustling with sales includes the Gretna Market and the Altavista Trade Lot on 7th Street, which rents vendor spots for just $5 on Friday and Saturday. Near Lynchburg, Hyland Heights Church and Calvary Baptist Church will also have a lot to offer. Calvary will also be serving breakfast. The 100 Mile Yard has been a cherished event in our region since October 2015 and originated in Altavista. Now, every town gets in on the action. The sale will go on rain or shine. A view of some of the vacant land the city of Danville may donate to Taylor Construction and Design of Urbana for new-home construction looking west down Seminary Street from Franklin Street A map showing the six parcels near West Seminary and Oak streets proposed to be donated from the city of Danville to Taylor Construction and Design for new-home construction A view of properties off Oak and Pine streets across from the Danville Fire Station #1 at 301 W that the city is hoping to see new single-family homes built on The Danville City Council on Tuesday will consider approving a development agreement for Taylor Construction and Design to build a minimum of two new homes and possibly four to six Drop in a question of your very own BY CLICKING HERE or by emailing 26-year Vermilion County reporter Jennifer Bailey at jbailey@news-gazette.com DANVILLE — New construction homes in Danville have been few and far between in the last few years Habitat for Humanity of Danville’s projects were the only new builds That’s why city officials are excited about an opportunity to partner with home builder Taylor Construction and Design of Urbana to build new homes in the area of Oak and Seminary streets The Danville City Council on Tuesday will consider approving a development agreement for Taylor Construction and Design to build a minimum of two new homes — possibly four The six parcels in the area northwest of downtown are near one of the city’s fire stations on Seminary Street The city would donate the lots at 318 and 324 Oak St.; 205 Most previously had blighted housing on them Those structures were torn down and the parcels left vacant said Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk “This is going to be a very exciting opportunity we’d like to keep the developer around for a bulk build Which we had zero homes built last year in the city,” Cronk said we’re working very hard to make this happen.” The new construction would be single-family homes priced at market rate Ward 2 Alderman and Public Services Committee Chairman Rick Strebing said “We want to show them that we mean business and we don’t want to put them off for another month,” Strebing said of the immediacy involved Cronk said the local housing market can only sustain so much so Taylor Construction will build the homes to be affordable for families — somewhere well below the $300,000 range If the developer fails to construct at least two residential houses before Dec Another incentive from the city to help Taylor Construction sell the homes will be 50 percent property tax abatement for five years to the homeowner Cronk said the housing development proposal came about quickly “The real estate market can flip very quickly We started this less than three weeks ago,” he said Hundreds of shoppers and dozens of vendors packed the Danville Farmers' Market on Saturday morning to welcome a new year Saturday marked the opening for the 2025 season with indoor and outside spaces offering plants The opening was held in tandem with the Make Danville Shine Home Expo with home repair and maintenance experts offering advice to those who ventured by It kicks off a monthlong effort by the city that encourages residents to clean up around the yard and make their home "shine."  robots and even acrobats roamed Danville Mall on Saturday afternoon for the seventh annual STEAM+C event hosted by Danville Public S… More than 1,000 people braved a chilly Saturday morning for the Bridge2Bridge Danville to bring in money for the Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer … Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account (WICS) — It’s the kind of story that leaves a community heartbroken—and angry Danville police say a 75-year-old woman was getting ready for bed when gunfire erupted they heard the shots being fired and were able to respond before the 911 call or as the 911 call was coming in.” Said Deputy Chief Terry McCord Ed Butler with Three Kings of Peace says the news hit him hard You know that the kids don't have no conscience at all.” Said Ed Butler The shooting happened in the 1000 block of Moore Street—an area familiar to Butler and his group And we just need to try our best to get those guns off the street.” Said Ed Butler Deputy Chief McCord says community support is key to solving cases like this we have a lot of support in our community from our leaders and just from the public in general And we feel their frustration—we’re right there with them.” Said Deputy Chief Terry McCord Butler says his group is focused on preventing violence “We spend so much time making sure they get a good quality education we help them get into college or an apprenticeship program so they can learn skills and earn money.” Said Ed Butler Danville police say the woman is recovering and should be released from the hospital soon Police say there are no suspects at this time (WSET) — The Danville Life Saving Crew is revolutionizing emergency response with its high-tech drone system which recently played a crucial role in combating a brush fire on Arnett Boulevard explained the advantages of the drone technology "If there's a situation and we see it happening The drones provide an up-to-400-foot bird's-eye view aiding first responders in tasks such as crowd control Mullins highlighted the drones' ability to assist police and search teams It allows the police department and people to search the streets and we can search in the wooded areas behind you where you can't see," he said the drones' thermal imaging capabilities helped monitor the spread and identify hotspots "We've had fires on the bypass before Is that fire headed toward the bypass or is it headed toward the populated area We can watch this and coordinate with the Danville Fire Department or the commander and see do they need to concentrate their efforts here or there," Mullins said SEE ALSO: Halifax County deputies find missing 86-year-old who was visiting from out of town The drones are also equipped with zoom capabilities and a speaker system, which can assist in rescuing stranded or trapped individuals by delivering essential items like an AED, water bottle, or life jacket. Mullins emphasized the importance of community support and donations for the crew's operations. "If we don't get the support, we would not be here. We want to make sure the Danville Life Saving Crew is around for another 85 years," he said. The crew is seeking to expand its drone fleet through grant money and donations, with hopes that the sky's the limit for their future capabilities. Watch the newscast to get the code and enter to win an ABC 13 Umbrella! 100-mile yard sale offers bargains from Amherst to Danville this weekendby Brigette Kelly (WSET) — Bargain hunters are in for a treat this weekend as the 100 Mile Yard Sale returns stretching from Amherst to Danville along Route 29 features hundreds of vendors offering a wide array of items from vintage Matchbox cars and antiques to old vinyl records and clothing - you name it "We come all the way from Gretna to here so far then we turn around and go back toward Gretna and stop at all those." shared his plans: "We're gonna go south to Danville and we'll probably leave Sunday morning I'll just say 50-plus years and leave the rest to your imagination," he said noted the nostalgic appeal of the items on sale I remember having that.' There was a gentleman here earlier who went and got his wife and brought her back here: 'See these are the ones I was telling you that I used to have,'" he said The yard sale at Hyland Heights runs through tomorrow while most other vendors on route 29 will remain open through Sunday With a vast selection of items and plenty of ground to cover shoppers are encouraged to arrive early to snag the best deals The vendors open at around seven in the morning and go until things wind down around three in the afternoon (WSET) — Two arrests have been made in connection with last Thursday's deadly shooting outside a Danville gas station was apprehended more than 1,000 miles away in Louisiana Danville police have also arrested Keontae Tarpley who they believe was Lowen's accomplice Lowen is accused of shooting and killing Pinakin Patel outside the Airport Mart Exxon on South Boston Road Patel confronted Lowen in the parking lot about an alleged theft RELATED: Suspect in Danville murder arrested in Louisiana Police said Tarpley initially denied knowing Lowen's whereabouts after allowing investigators to search his phone they discovered text messages indicating Tarpley was attempting to hide the clothes Lowen had been wearing Tarpley later admitted to giving Lowen a ride to Burlington He is now charged with being an accessory after the fact Lowen faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony Authorities are still awaiting details on when Lowen will be extradited back to Danville by Robert Locklear (WSET) — UPDATE: The Danville Police Department has identified 21-year-old Jaelynn Lowen as the suspect in Thursday's homicide Lowen has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony DPD says he should be considered armed and dangerous Police also thanked the community for sending in tips that led to the location of the blue Honda Odyssey that left the scene Anyone with information on Lowen's whereabouts is asked to contact the department EARLIER: The Danville Police Department is searching for the suspect in a shooting that left a 47-year-old man dead on Thursday their officers were first dispatched around 12:21 p.m Police said when they arrived they found 47-year-old Pinakin Patel in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds "Officers and EMS personnel provided first aid and the victim was transported to SOVAH Danville where he was later pronounced dead," DPD said Police said the Patel and a male suspect were engaged in an interaction in the parking lot over an alleged theft when the suspect fired at him the suspect fled the scene in a dark colored Honda Odyssey van headed west on South Boston Rd," DPD said They caught a picture of the license plate on the Danville Police Department's new license plate reader system but have not located him yet Anyone with information should contact the Danville Police Department at 911 or Crime Stoppers at 434-793-0000 (WSET) — A man accused of shooting a Danville Police Officer waived his rights to a preliminary hearing allowing the case to proceed directly to a grand jury without the Commonwealth presenting any evidence Authorities said the incident occurred in February in the parking lot of a hotel on Riverside Drive Officer Kayla Robinson reportedly noticed suspect Lucas Degier in a car linked to a hit-and-run authorities say Degier pulled out a gun and fired at her multiple times RELATED: Man charged with attempted murder after shooting Danville officer: Officials Both Degier and Robinson suffered injuries do the shooting and were treated for their injuries Degier faces charges of attempted capital murder Court officials indicated that while a date for the grand jury has not been set it is expected to take place sometime next month the primary suspect wanted in connection with the homicide of Pinakin Patel Authorities said Lowen was arrested in Louisiana and is awaiting extradition back to Danville He has been charged with second degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony He was arrested in Danville and charged with accessory after the fact The Danville Police Department has identified the suspect as 21-year-old Jaelynn Lowen Lowen is charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony The Department wishes to thank the community for tips leading to the location of the blue Honda Odyssey on Halifax Rd. which was identified as leaving the crime scene The Danville Police Department said that they are investigating a Thursday afternoon homicide that left a 47-year-old dead the homicide occurred in the 1300 block of South Boston Road at 12:41 p.m Officers responded to a reported shooting outside of the Airport Mart Exxon was found in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds Officers and EMS personnel provided first aid and the victim was transported to SOVAH Danville the victim and the male suspect interacted in the parking lot over an alleged theft resulting in the suspect shooting the victim The suspect then fled the scene in a dark colored Honda Odyssey van Individuals with information leading to an arrest and conviction could be eligible for a cash reward. Note: All Danville Property Owners should have received a Notice of Public Hearing by mail. For more information regarding this notice we encourage you to watch the recorded Community Meeting.   Watch the Meeting  that would be about half of what you make today The Town maintenance budget is facing this scenario with funding that hasn’t kept up with rising costs of the past 20 years Danville property owners pay an annual assessment that directly and specifically is earmarked by law to fund public parks and public facilities through the Lighting and Landscape Assessment District (LLAD) and community buildings—these essential services rely on LLAD funding the Town is seeking an adjustment to sustain these services LLAD funds are restricted by state law to fund only these amenities supplementing the LLAD fund by $1.35 million in fiscal year 2023/24 To avoid cuts to general fund programs, the Town is proposing an adjusted LLAD following extensive analysis. The proposed 2025 LLAD would reduce a $2.38 million maintenance and operations shortfall by more than half in the first year. Without increasing assessments for this special fund, the general fund must cover the gap. LEARN MORE