Minnesota BCA Identifies Suspect and Officer Who Discharged Their Weapon in West St. Paul Standoff
WEST ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - The Minnesota BCA has released new information regarding last week’s deadly standoff in West St. Paul, identifying both the suspect who died and the officer who fired his weapon. You can read our original story on this incident here: Hours-long Standoff With Shots Fired at Police Ends with Suspect Deceased.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the deceased suspect as Jerry Va Thao, 42, of St. Paul. According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Thao was killed after a nearly eight-hour armed standoff with law enforcement on the 1200 block of Ottawa Avenue.
The BCA also identified Apple Valley Police Sergeant Sean Marben as the officer who discharged his firearm during the incident. Sgt. Marben is an eight-year veteran of the department and a member of the South Metro SWAT Team. He has been placed on standard critical incident leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Timeline of the Incident
According to the BCA’s preliminary findings, the situation began around 11 a.m. on August 28, when St. Paul police notified West St. Paul officers of their plan to arrest Thao, who was wanted on multiple felony warrants and had allegedly violated an order for protection the previous day. Thao was confirmed to be hiding in the basement of the home.
Negotiators attempted to establish contact, but Thao refused to surrender and at times opened fire on officers. Gunfire struck a ballistic shield and a SWAT vehicle. Law enforcement deployed chemical irritants in an effort to resolve the standoff peacefully, but Thao remained inside.
Around 6:30 p.m., Sgt. Marben, positioned on a SWAT vehicle, observed Thao armed at the bottom of the basement stairs. Sgt. Marben fired his department-issued firearm, striking Thao. Officers immediately provided medical aid before transporting him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At the scene, investigators recovered two firearms, cartridge casings, and a damaged ballistic shield. The BCA confirmed that officers’ body-worn cameras were activated during the incident.
Apple Valley Police Department Statement
The Apple Valley Police Department released a statement on Facebook about the incident, confirming Sgt. Marben was identified as being involved in the incident, highlighting his career and commendations. According to the Apple Valley Police Department, Marben has been a member of the Apple Valley Police Department since 2017. During this time, he has earned multiple Lifesaving Awards (in 2019 and 2020), the Officer of the Year Award (2022), the Chief’s Award of Merit (2023), and the Department Award of Merit (2020). He has also served on the South Metro SWAT Team since 2020 and was named Operator of the Year in 2024. During this incident, Sgt. Marben was serving in that role as a member of the South Metro SWAT Team.
Department officials described his actions during the standoff as “heroic,” noting that the prolonged incident involved sustained gunfire directed at responding officers. “We are grateful that he and all responding public safety personnel were unharmed and able to return safely to their families,” the statement read.
The Apple Valley Police Department states that they are fully cooperating with the Minnesota BCA’s ongoing investigation and remain committed to supporting Sergeant Marben and all involved personnel through their comprehensive post-incident protocols and wellness resources.
Next Steps in the Investigation
The West St. Paul Police Department formally requested that the BCA investigate the use of deadly force. Once complete, the BCA will present its findings to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office for review. The agency emphasized that its role is fact-finding and that it will not make recommendations regarding charges.
The photos below were captured and shared with us by photographer Holden Smith.
Written by: Will Wight
