A York County jury found 31-year-old Evan Hawthorne guilty Tuesday of murdering retired Rock Hill police lieutenant Larry Vaughan.
The verdict came just hours after closing arguments, according to court records.
Judge Keith Kelly sentenced Hawthorne to life in prison without parole.
Vaughan, 54, was discovered beaten to death inside the Anderson Apartments in downtown Rock Hill on July 23, 2021. Prosecutors said Hawthorne was responsible for the fatal assault that ended the longtime officer’s life.
Vaughan retired from the Rock Hill Police Department in September 2020 after more than 30 years of service. He joined the department in June 1990 and held numerous roles, including patrol officer, supervisor, special projects officer, criminal investigations supervisor, K9 officer, SWAT sniper, SWAT commander, and firearms instructor.
The conviction closes a case that began four years ago and deeply affected both the police department and the Rock Hill community.
