Take Action
- Donate first. Lionel’s family is raising money for an independent autopsy. Donate to the family’s GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/justice-for-lionel-thomas-qtvg8
- Then call and write District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. and Attorney General Liz Murrill. Ask them to hand this case to an independent prosecutor. When state police finish their investigation, the decision on charges goes to the local district attorney, who works with the same sheriff’s office on his cases. An independent prosecutor would make that decision without those ties.
District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr., 32nd Judicial District
(985) 873-6500 · [email protected]
P.O. Box 3600, Houma, LA 70361
Attorney General Liz Murrill
(225) 326-6079 · [email protected]
P.O. Box 94005, Baton Rouge, LA 70804
WHAT TO SAY:
“My name is ___. I’m calling about Lionel ‘Ham’ Thomas, who was shot and killed by a Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputy on November 5. I’m asking District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. to step aside and hand this case to an independent prosecutor, and Attorney General Liz Murrill to take the case or appoint one. His family deserves a decision they can trust.”
- Call Sheriff Tim Soignet. Ask him to release the body-camera footage.
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office
(985) 876-2500
P.O. Box 1670, Houma, LA 70361
WHAT TO SAY:
“My name is ___. I’m calling about the November 5 shooting of Lionel ‘Ham’ Thomas. I’m asking Sheriff Tim Soignet to release the body-camera footage. His family and his community deserve to see what happened.”
TRIGGER WARNING: THIS PAGE INCLUDES VIDEO OF THE SHOOTING OF LIONEL THOMAS.
On November 5, 2026, a chase ended with Lionel “Ham” Thomas in Bayou Terrebonne in Houma, Louisiana. Then a Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputy opened fire, killing him. He was 43.
Ham ran a barbershop in Houma. Neighbors say he gave free back-to-school haircuts. “If you didn’t have money, he cut your hair for free,” one said.
State police say officers tried to stop his car as part of a narcotics investigation, that he drove off, and that the chase ended when his SUV went into the bayou. Bystander video shows him in the water, holding on to the SUV. His family says he was trying not to drown. State police say they’re still investigating.
Lionel Thomas is the second person killed in a Terrebonne Parish deputy shooting in under six weeks. Jesiah Stegmann was killed on September 27. Both families say they still have no answers.
Did you see what happened? Louisiana State Police are asking anyone with information, photos, or video to come forward: 1-800-434-8007.
Lionel Thomas’s life mattered.
Sources: Louisiana State Police; The Courier (Houma); WGNO; WWL-TV; FOX 8 (WVUE); The Times of Houma/Thibodaux.
