Death by Cop  2021-2025

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Jerry Va Thao

Gender : Male

Age : 42

Race : Asian

Date : 08/28/2025

Location : 1200 block of Ottawa Avenue

City : West St. Paul

County : Dakota

State : Minnesota

Agency : West St. Paul Police Department, South Metro SWAT Team

Officer(s) :Sgt. Sean Marben

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during standoff

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On August 28, 2025, West St. Paul police and the South Metro SWAT Team attempted to arrest 42-year-old Jerry Va Thao at a home on the 1200 block of Ottawa Avenue. Thao barricaded himself in the basement and fired multiple shots at officers during a seven-hour standoff, striking a police shield and a SWAT vehicle. Chemical irritants failed to end the situation. Around 6:30 p.m., Sgt. Sean Marben of the Apple Valley Police Department, serving with the South Metro SWAT Team, shot Thao at the bottom of a stairwell. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/bca-releases-names-of-suspect-officer-involved-in-deadly-west-st-paul-standoff
https://hoodline.com/2025/09/bca-identifies-st-paul-man-in-fatal-west-st-paul-police-encounter-apple-valley-officer-on-leave-after-standoff-shooting
https://www.startribune.com/investigators-identify-man-killed-during-west-st-paul-standoff-with-police/601466680
https://www.limitless-news.com/local/weststpaulstandoffupdate