In the cold of a February day in Gary, Indiana, the life of 23-year-old Danielle Brown, a Black female, was tragically cut short. On February 12, 2023, in the 1100 block of Durbin, Brown was shot and killed, a violent end to a dispute reportedly over a mere $10. Her death would quickly lead to the apprehension of a suspect and a swift path through the justice system.
The man identified by at least two eyewitnesses as the person who shot and killed Danielle Brown was Kevin Scott Varner, a
51-year-old from the neighboring city of Hammond. Varner's attempt to flee came to a halt on the very same day as the murder. His capture in Fowler, Indiana, was anything but smooth, as he opened fire on a police officer during a traffic stop, leading to additional charges of attempted murder in Benton County.
Varner chose to represent himself in court and pushed for a speedy trial. On May 5, 2023, a jury deliberated for about an hour before finding him guilty of Danielle Brown's murder. The judicial process culminated on June 16, 2023, when Kevin Scott Varner was sentenced to a total of seventy-nine years in prison. This sentence was comprised of sixty-three years for the murder charge and an additional sixteen years due to a habitual felon enhancement. The case was brought to a close through the efforts of the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force and the Gary Police Department.
