Detectives in Council Bluffs have identified 18-year old Ethan B. Edgar, of Hutchinson, Kansas, as the person who died after being shot Monday afternoon, at South Main Street and 9th Avenue.

The investigation, which is still ongoing, indicates that owner of a stolen black 2009 Nissan 370Z, along with several friends, in multiple cars, were in Council Bluffs actively searching for the car, as they had information that it was seen at different locations in Council Bluffs throughout the day. The Nissan had been reported stolen to the Omaha Police Department just after 2-a.m., Monday.

Edgar was behind the wheel of the stolen Nissan, parked on the gas station lot, at South Main and 9th Avenue, when it was located by some of the owner’s friends, who were in two separate cars. One of these cars, a blue Honda Civic, pulled directly in front of the Nissan, blocking its forward path, as the second car, a silver Toyota Camry pulled in directly behind the Nissan, blocking it from backing out of the area.

Edgar, the lone occupant of the Nissan, put the car in reverse and accelerated, slamming the rear‐end of the Nissan into the front passenger side door of the Camry. As Edgar then began to drive forward, a male sitting in the front passenger
seat of the Camry fired multiple shots at the Nissan through his open car door window. The three cars proceeded to ram into each other several times, with the male in the Camry firing additional rounds at the Nissan. A total of 12 spent
.9-mm shell casings were recovered at the scene.

Edgar was able to drive the Nissan off the gas station lot, heading north on South Main Street, with the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry chasing after it. Edgar lost control of the Nissan at the intersection of South Main Street and 5th Avenue,
crashing into a tree. Paramedics transported Edgar to UNMC, where he died from his injuries. Edgar had been struck by gunfire twice, once in the upper right back and another time on the right thigh.

The subjects inside the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry remained on the scene and were taken in for questioning. After reviewing all the known evidence with the County Attorney’s Office, it was decided that no one would be immediately
arrested. It is expected the County Attorney will present the evidence to a Grand Jury to determine if the male who fired the shots, 25-year old Jonathan Echtinaw, of Omaha, will face any criminal charges.