- San Diego police shot 39-year-old Edwaun Walter Thames after a high-speed chase that began in Lincoln Park.
- The chase ended in Spring Valley when Thames crashed a stolen Lexus into a light pole.
- Thames was found with a novelty cigarette lighter resembling a gun, prompting Officer Ingram to fire two rounds at him.
SPRING VALLEY, Calif. — Less than a month after an LAPD shooting involving an armed suspect, San Diego police wounded 39-year-old Edwaun Walter Thames following a high-speed chase. The Jan. 22 incident began in San Diego and ended 10 minutes later in Spring Valley with the non-fatal shooting of the auto-theft suspect.
The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) released body-worn camera footage of the incident on Monday, illustrating the events that led Officer Henry Ingram Jr. to fire two rounds. According to police reports, the pursuit began at approximately 12:45 p.m. in the Lincoln Park district when patrol officers attempted to stop a stolen white 2005 Lexus near Euclid and Imperial avenues.
The Pursuit and Crash
Thames reportedly stopped the vehicle briefly before speeding away, leading officers on a chase to the east along Imperial Avenue. During the pursuit, the vehicle ran over a tire-flattening spike strip deployed by officers at 69th Street. Despite deflated front tires, the suspect continued to flee, running through red lights and stop signs.
The chase ended in the La Presa neighborhood near Spring Valley when Thames lost control of the vehicle at the intersection of Gillespie Drive and Jamacha Road. The Lexus crashed off the roadway and struck a light pole, which toppled onto a pursuing SDPD cruiser. One officer sustained minor cuts from broken glass caused by the falling utility pole.
The Shooting Incident
Following the crash, Thames exited the vehicle and dropped a shiny, silver object onto the asphalt. Body-worn camera footage shows Thames getting onto his knees as officers ordered him to lie face first on the street. In the video, an officer is heard asking, "Is that a real gun?"
Moments later, Thames leaned toward the object—later identified as a novelty cigarette lighter designed to look like a pistol—with his right hand extended. Officer Ingram, a two-year veteran of the department, fired two shots, striking Thames and causing him to collapse.
Legal Status and Investigation
Thames was treated for non-fatal injuries and subsequently released from medical care. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on $50,000 bail on suspicion of:
Auto theft
Possession of a stolen vehicle
Felony evasion of police
Under a regional agreement to prevent conflicts of interest, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office is conducting the investigation into the shooting. California law requires the release of "critical incident videos" within 45 days of an officer-involved shooting.
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