A 45-year-old suspect, Jamar Thomas, has died from injuries sustained when a robbery victim shot him in self-defense in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month. Thomas’s nephew, Lamonte Thomas, remains in the Marion County Jail facing felony charges after surveillance footage confirmed the pair ambushed and tackled the victim from behind.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — What began as a verbal dispute in a downtown alley escalated into a fatal life-or-death struggle on the streets of Indianapolis. On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 45-year-old Jamar Thomas died at Eskenazi Hospital while in police custody for his role in an alleged robbery attempt that took place weeks earlier.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, March 7, near the intersection of East Washington and North Pennsylvania Street. According to court documents, the intended victim and his girlfriend were walking to a bar when they were followed by a man drinking from a “double cup”, which is slang for a cough syrup mixture. After a brief verbal exchange where the intended victim revealed he was armed to deter a fight, the parties initially separated. However, Jamar and his nephew, 29-year-old Lamonte Thomas, allegedly circled back and ambushed the intended victim from behind.
The Fight for the Firearm
Public safety cameras captured the moment the two men surrounded the intended victim and “immediately began grabbing at his waist,” according to investigators. During the ensuing struggle on the ground, the intended victim stated both men were attempting to seize his handgun. Fearing he would be disarmed and killed, the intended victim managed to draw his firearm and fire a single shot, striking Jamar in the abdomen.
Despite his uncle being shot, Lamonte reportedly continued the assault, pinning the intended victim to the ground and choking him while threatening to kill him. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers arrived at 2 a.m. to find Lamonte still on top of the victim, throwing punches.
Legal Consequences and Trial
While Jamar has since succumbed to his wounds, Lamonte Thomas faces a litany of serious charges, including:
- Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury
- Criminal Confinement
- Strangulation
- Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury
Lamonte is currently being held on a $12,000 cash bond. A bail review hearing is set for March 31, with a jury trial scheduled to begin on April 27, 2026. IMPD has not filed any charges against the intended victim, as the surveillance footage and the nature of the ambush support a clear case of justified self-defense.
Safety Tip: Being tackled to the ground is one of the most dangerous scenarios for a concealed carry holder because it compromises your ability to draw and increases the risk of a “gun grab.” This incident underscores the importance of a high-quality holster with excellent retention and the need for “weapon retention” training. If you are ever forced into a ground struggle, your primary goal is to protect your waistline and prevent the attacker from accessing your firearm. If you must draw, ensure the firearm is held close to your body (“retention position”) to prevent the attacker from stripping it from your hand. As this intended victim demonstrated, staying in the fight and successfully defending your firearm is often the only way to survive an ambush.
