BCA: Suspect Fired at Officers Before Being Fatally Shot in West St. Paul

Sep 4

*Officers positioned vehicles outside the home as the standoff stretched into the evening.* ***MN CRIME PHOTO***

*Emergency crews are gathered near the scene of a SWAT standoff in West St. Paul on August 28.* ***MN CRIME PHOTO***

The man fatally shot by police during a standoff in West Saint Paul last week has been identified as 42-year-old Jerry Va Thao, of Saint Paul.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner confirmed Thao died following the Aug. 28 use-of-force incident, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

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The BCA also released the name of the officer who fired. Apple Valley Sgt. Sean Marben, an eight-year law enforcement veteran and member of the South Metro SWAT Team, used his department-issued firearm during the operation. He was placed on critical incident leave, which is standard procedure.

Investigators say the incident began around 11 a.m. when Saint Paul police told West Saint Paul officers they planned to arrest Thao at a home on the 1200 block of Ottawa Avenue. Thao was wanted on multiple felony warrants and had allegedly violated an order for protection the previous day. Officers confirmed he was in the basement but said he refused to surrender despite repeated requests.

Negotiators made limited contact with Thao over several hours. The BCA says Thao fired multiple rounds from inside the home, striking a SWAT vehicle and a ballistic shield. Officers continued attempts to talk with him and eventually deployed chemical irritants into the house, but Thao remained inside.

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Around 6:30 p.m., Sgt. Marben, positioned on a SWAT vehicle, saw Thao armed at the bottom of a stairwell and fired, hitting him. Officers immediately provided aid and Thao was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

BCA crime scene investigators recovered two firearms, spent casings and a damaged shield from the scene. All responding officers were wearing activated body cameras.

The West Saint Paul Police Department requested the BCA conduct the investigation. Once complete, the BCA will present its findings to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office for review.

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