We present initial results from a statistical analysis of 2034 energetic (50--220 keV) ion events observed by the IMP-8 spacecraft upstream from the Earth's bow shock during a 6 years period. The most important findings are the following: (1) the percentage Pe of high intensity energetic ion events accompanied by the presence of relativistic (≥220 keV) electrons is ~80% (for all geomagnetic conditions), and increases significantly with increasing the index Kp of geomagnetic activity, (2) high intensity energetic ion events most often (~93%) show spectra extending up to energies E>~300 keV, (3) a percentage of ~71.5% of events display non-inverse energy dispersion of ion intensities. The above results, as well as additional results discussed in the text, suggest that a percentage as high as ~80% of high intensity 50--220 keV ion events in our statistical sample have an origin within the magnetosphere. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union