Dead former US attorney found inside San Diego federal building

A former twice-acting U.S. attorney turned up dead this week inside a downtown San Diego federal building. Andrew Haden, 48 years old and a native of California, led the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California until his death was discovered Wednesday at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building where prosecutors work daily. Officers from police arrived after reports that he had gone missing before they found him inside the structure. The San Diego Police Department stated that investigators responded to the scene out of an abundance of caution and currently suspect no foul play involved in this tragic event.

"This is one of the darkest days in our office's history, but there was nothing dark about Andrew Haden's life," Adam Gordon said recently while serving as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. He added that his colleague was a beacon of light full of laughter, friendship, integrity and an unwavering commitment to serving their community. The department plans to honor his legacy by carrying his light forward today and always through their collective efforts moving ahead.

Haden first joined the U.S. attorney's office back in 2010 before spending sixteen years working at the San Diego location specifically. He served as acting U.S. attorney after being selected to fill vacancies occurring in both 2023 and 2025 separately. President Donald Trump chose him to run the office following the firing of U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath, a appointee from the Biden administration who left before he took over duties there. Scott C. Carr, executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association, expressed that he was devastated upon learning about Haden's death recently.

Carr recalled talking with Haden during the most recent government shutdown about how it impacted employees working inside his office personally. They discussed how everyone worked hard to support his team any way they could under those difficult circumstances at the time. "Andrew was always friendly with a kind word to say, which makes news of his passing all the more difficult," Carr wrote in a statement released publicly. He noted that thoughts were sent immediately to Haden's family and colleagues at the Southern District of California as well. The entire legal community lost someone truly good according to Carr who emphasized this loss deeply affects them all right now.

Haden served as a Navy veteran with two overseas deployments during his time in the military before returning home for civilian life later on. He earned his law degree from the University of San Diego where he studied hard to become an attorney eventually. Defense attorney Jeremy Warren once locked horns with Haden in previous courtroom battles before their paths crossed professionally many times over years gone by now. Warren called Haden's death a huge blow to the entire federal community in San Diego specifically within this region alone today. He noted that they remained friends throughout everything and stated this is a testament to the type of guy he was being known as generally speaking.