Man found dead inside trailer following Andover standoff identified
Smoke rises from what was left of a home in Andover after a large fire that occurred at the scene of a standoff on June 24, 2020.[KSTP/Jim O'Connell]
The man found dead inside a horse trailer at the scene of a standoff in Andover Wednesday has been identified.
According to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, 50-year-old Chad Allen Thorstenson, of Andover, was found dead after authorities heard a gunshot from inside the trailer along the 300 block of Andover Boulevard Northwest.
Law enforcement officers first responded to the scene on a report of smoke coming from a house in the area. Upon arrival, deputies and firefighters found the residence fully engulfed in flames.
As crews attempted to extinguish the fire, deputies encountered Thorstenson in a trailer. Authorities said he was armed and was making threats.
Law enforcement officials attempted to communicate with Thorstenson before hearing the gunshot inside the trailer. A SWAT team later approached and found the man dead.
"This is certainly not the outcome we wanted, it is a very tragic situation," Lt. Andy Knotz said at the time.
The incident remains under investigation by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, Minnesota State Fire Marshall, and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.