Assistant U.S. Attorney Found Dead Inside Federal Building

Police found Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden dead inside a San Diego federal building after a missing-person call, and they said no foul play was suspected.

Story Snapshot

San Diego police found Haden, 48, inside an office at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building.
Officers first received a missing-person report Wednesday evening.
Police said no foul play was suspected at the scene.
Cause and manner of death await Medical Examiner review, a standard “pending” step.

What Happened Inside The Downtown Federal Building

San Diego Police said officers received a missing-person call Wednesday night. Hours later, they went to 880 Front Street, the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building, and found Andrew Haden dead in an office space. Haden was 48 and had twice served as acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, according to published reports that cited police statements. Police investigators said they did not suspect foul play based on what they saw at the scene.

Congress officially named the complex the Edward J. Schwartz Courthouse and Federal Building in 1994, confirming the site and address at the center of this case. The General Services Administration’s environmental documents also describe the building footprint and federal offices at the location. These records matter because they anchor the timeline to a real place, with controlled access and security. That context helps explain why a police call would quickly focus on a specific office and floor.

How Police Say These Cases Move From Scene To Certainty

Police can rule out threats or crimes early, yet still wait on the science. That is the design. The Medical Examiner must determine the cause of death and the manner of death through records, lab work, and full case review. Agencies use a “pending investigation” status until that is complete. Public health guidance teaches that cause is the medical reason, while manner classifies the circumstances, such as natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.

Forensic references stress that manner is not a hunch; it is a formal call backed by evidence, and sometimes it cannot be made right away. Courts and medical standards describe how examiners reach those decisions after all testing and reports are in, not before. That is why an early line like “no foul play suspected” can be true about the scene while the official cause and manner remain open. The aim is accuracy first, speed second.

Why “No Foul Play Suspected” Does Not End The Story

Police use that phrase to signal they saw no signs of a crime. It tells the public there is no active threat and calms the area around a federal site. It does not answer what medical event or chain of events caused the death. The Medical Examiner will decide that after the pending review, which can include toxicology, medical records, and investigative follow-up. That process protects the truth from guesswork and keeps families from rumors.

Former acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden, 48, was found dead Wednesday night inside a vacant office at the

Police responded after a missing person report and discovered him at 880 Front St., which houses the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. No… pic.twitter.com/zEvYUcTQJY

— Gina Beana Fofina (@Ginasassyass) August 22, 2026

Common sense says let investigators work and judge them on results. American conservative values prize order, due process, and clear roles. Police secure scenes and share what they can. Medical Examiners do the science and issue final calls. In this case, police set two anchors: where Haden was found and that they did not suspect foul play. The Medical Examiner will set the rest. Precision honors the man, the facts, and the public trust that holds both.