Full Breakdown
Andrew Haden, Former Acting U.S. Attorney, Found Dead in San Diego Federal Building
8/22/2026, 2:48:31 AM
Core Event
A 48-year-old former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California was discovered deceased inside a vacant office at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in downtown San Diego after being reported missing earlier that day. Law-enforcement officials said the death is being treated as a suspected suicide; no foul play is suspected and the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Background & Context
Andrew R. Haden joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in 2010 through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. He twice served as acting U.S. attorney during leadership transitions—in 2023 and again in 2025—and held senior positions including chief of the Violent Crimes & Human Trafficking Section and first assistant U.S. attorney.
Born and raised in San Diego, Haden earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford, served five years in the U.S. Navy with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Liberia, and later received his law degree from the University of San Diego. He was a father of two and received the 2020 Director’s Award for Superior Performance and the 2024 Peter J. Mazza Outstanding Federal Lawyer Award.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Gordon noted that, out of respect for Haden’s family, details would not be disclosed and that grief counseling would be offered to staff.
Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant called the death “a loss for everyone.”
Scott C. Carr, executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association, expressed devastation and recalled Haden’s efforts to support his team during a recent government shutdown.
On-the-Ground Reports
San Diego police received a missing-person call late in the evening and responded to the federal building. Officers entered the vacant office at 880 Front St. and found Haden deceased. The Medical Examiner’s Office has been tasked with confirming the cause and manner of death.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Out of an abundance of caution, SDPD investigators responded to the scene, and no foul play is suspected,” — SDPD Sergeant Saum Poorsaleh
- “He was a beacon of light — full of laughter, friendship, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving our community,” — Adam Gordon, district US attorney
What’s Next
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office will issue a formal determination of cause and manner of death. Law-enforcement agencies continue to investigate, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will maintain internal support resources for staff while the case proceeds.
