On July 11, 2021, deputies from the San Juan County Sheriff's Office were dispatched in support for the Navajo Police Department. At 1:25 p.m., Navajo officers were informed that a male subject was brandishing a firearm at the Speedway Gas Station at US Highway 64 and Highway 491.

Moments before arriving on the scene, the suspect who was later identified as 36-year-old Shawn Thomas, had fled the scene and was headed east on Highway 64. While fleeing, Thomas exited the Navajo Nation, where San Juan Deputies intercepted the high speed chase. During the chase, San Juan deputies successfully deployed stop sticks, partially disabling Thomas's vehicle.

After traveling nearly a mile and a half, Thomas stopped his vehicle two different times. San Juan deputies commanded Thomas numerous times to stop and exit the vehicle. Fleeing the scene again, deputies observed a handgun in Thomas's hand as he made a U-turn on highway 64. Only making it a few hundred yards, Thomas stopped the car yet again.

San Juan deputies surrounded the car, drawing firearms and continuing to provide commands to Thomas to exit the vehicle. As deputies approached the car, Thomas began reaching for his waist band, attempting to retrieve his firearm. Escalating the situation, multiple deputies began firing shots into the vehicle, striking Thomas and fatally wounding him. With the vehicle still in drive, the wounded suspects foot was still placed on the accelerator, causing the vehicle to drive off the highway into a nearby field.

As the car came to a halt after hitting a tree, the vehicles tires accelerated at a high rate of speed, further causing the car to burst into flames. Unfortunately, the evidence deputies attempted to preserve, was lost due to the significant fire damage the vehicle sustained. Despite life saving measures, Thomas was pulled from the vehicle, but was pronounced deceased at the scene.