On a tragic Easter Sunday in Madison, Wisconsin, the life of Andrew T. Thorland, a 33-year-old Caucasian male, was cut short in a shocking act of violence. The events of April 1, 2018, unfolded at a home on the Far East Side, forever altering the lives of those who knew and loved him. Andrew was a beloved son, a loyal friend, and a dedicated member of his community, known for his passion for sports and his work as a writer and statistician for the Madison Blaze Women's Football team.
He was born on February 19, 1985, and was working towards an associate's degree at Madison College at the time of his death.
The incident, which marked the first homicide in the city of Madison that year, was reported by Andrew's own mother. When police arrived at the Meadowlark Drive residence, they discovered a grim scene. Inside, the smell of gunpowder hung in the air. It was determined that Andrew had been fatally shot. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to what the Dane County Medical Examiner's Office would later describe as "homicidal firearm-related trauma."
The investigation into the death of Andrew Thorland quickly focused on his father, 58-year-old Timothy A. Thorland. Authorities concluded that Timothy shot his son before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide. Timothy Thorland was also transported to a hospital, where he died from what was determined to be a self-inflicted firearm injury. The elder Thorland was officially named as the suspect in his son's death. An acquaintance of Andrew's was also present at the house at the time of the shootings but was unharmed.
In the wake of this devastating event, friends and family gathered to remember a man who brought joy to so many. His enthusiasm for the New England Patriots, gaming with friends, and road trips with his family were fondly recalled. Andrew was remembered as a "dear sweet guy" whose sudden and violent death left a void in the hearts of those he left behind. There were no arrests to be made, as the sole suspect had taken his own life.
