Indianola Academy graduate and Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Andrew “Drew” Hanson spent his life answering a call that those closest to him said began early: the call to serve, protect and stand between danger and the innocent. That calling carried him from local police work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to federal law enforcement assignments in Arizona, Alabama, Louisiana and beyond. Sadly, Hanson’s life ended while on duty on July 13, while helping serve an arrest warrant on a fugitive in Louisiana.
Hanson resided in Pineville, Louisiana, with his wife, Natalie, and children, Kol and Sadie. A GoFundMe account has been established to help his family: gofund.me/eb2be4cd4.
Born September 15, 1989, Hanson was the son of Michael Dewayne Hanson and Sarah Joan Sharp Hanson. He was often described as someone who, “from an early age,” possessed “an unwavering sense of purpose and a desire to serve others.” That sense of purpose became the foundation of a career built around public safety, justice and service.
Hanson’s personality was service and family. His loved ones remember him as a man with a “warm smile,” a “compassionate heart,” and the rare ability to make others feel “seen, heard and valued.”
Louisiana Senator Ted Kennedy said, “Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Andrew Hanson put his life on the line to protect Louisianians and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Becky and I are praying for his family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers as they grieve this heartbreaking loss. Louisiana will never forget him.”
Hanson came to Indianola Academy in the sixth grade from Greenwood. Lindsay Maxey Snow became friends with the Leflore County transfer. They spent hours together growing up on the same street and even attended Northwest Community College together. She noted Drew was drawn to be a U.S. Marshal.
“When we graduated high school, he knew he wanted to be in that line of work. He went to college at NWCC and studied criminal justice right off the bat and went up the ladder from there over time. Always goal oriented with the marshals in mind. He was an officer in Ocean Springs, Border Patrol, ICE, then ultimately a U.S. Marshal, which was his goal,” Snow explained.
And it wasn’t just a career path; it was how he lived his whole life with friends and family – running toward danger, always shielding loved ones.
“Prior to that though, he was always protective and kept his people safe and loved big without conditions. Just met you where you were and accepted you. He was that way with everyone,” she said. “We were in high school and he and I went to the hills to pick something up at deer camp and a rattlesnake was right beside me and I froze. I was scared obviously. He literally jumped in front of me, grabbed my arm, pulled me back, and kicked it, all in one swift motion. It’s who he was. He never thought twice about keeping the people he loved safe. This is just one of thousands of times he did something selflessly for me.”
The duo spent hours together growing up enjoying life with family and friends and squeezing the best out of each and every moment.
“He lived right down the road from my house growing up. He was with us almost every day. There were very few times you saw him without me, Ann Shelby and Amber together. We would ride around forever, jamming out as loud as we could in his big old red truck and then later in his big red Jeep,” Snow said. “There are some songs we will never hear again without thinking of him specifically. Brantly Gilbert - My Kinda Party – is definitely one of those songs and I know Ann Shelby and Amber will agree with that! We listened to it so much!”
Drew Hanson, left, is pictured with Indianola Academy classmate and friend Lindsay Snow.
Hanson lived and loved big with his family and friends, and each person knew it and felt it.
“What I remember most, or will never forget, are his huge, tight hugs, big smile and contagious laugh. I am proud to have known him and proud to know he served our country and kept us safe the way he did. It’s who he was to the core and he was so humble about it,” Snow said. “Communities aren’t changed only because certain people hold authority. They’re changed by people who choose, every day, to love others well. Drew did that better than almost anyone I’ve ever known. He showed up when people needed him. He stood up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves. He celebrated people’s victories, carried them through sadness, and somehow always knew the right thing to say to make you laugh when you needed it. He was a hype man on the football field, at home, in the hallways at school. He was simply the best. The world will be so much quieter without him, but it is also so much better for having him in it.”
Snow and many others gathered last week to pay tribute to the fallen hero and each one knew that Drew was there in spirit.
“As we sat at his service Saturday and listened to stories from other officers and people who knew him, we all agreed – he was looking down and saying, ‘Damn, I am a legend.’ If you knew Drew, you know that is such a compliment to him and he loved all that attention.”
She also explained that Hanson was a family man and there was no doubt ever.
“I must also add that I have never met a man more proud of his kids. They were his world. He instantly loved Sadie and jumped right into her travel softball world and when they had Kol, he was eaten up by that little boy! They are lucky to have had him as a dad and we are lucky to have a little piece of him left here with us,” Snow said.
Amber Sykes became friends with Hanson soon after he came to town as well.
“I first met Drew in junior high. Mutual friendships is what sparked our friendship. Drew was a natural protector. He was fearless. He was the life of the party,” Sykes said. “We always knew he wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice, with the ultimate goal of being a U.S. Marshal. We always thought he was crazy for wanting to do that, but knew if he set his mind to it, we never doubted he would find his way there.”
And Sykes, as well as the rest of Hanson’s friends and family, had no doubt of what a great friend Drew was to everyone.
“What I will always remember the most is how safe we all felt when he was around and the comfort his presence brought. And the endless laughs. He could turn any situation into a funny one. He always kept his word and was the most loyal friend,” Sykes said.
Cindy Roberts was Drew’s sixth grade teacher. She knew from the start that the boy from Greenwood was something special.
“I first met Drew when he was in my sixth-grade class. I had already taught these kids in third grade, and he was the new boy,” Roberts recalled. “He was immediately a favorite among the students, not just because he was so handsome and had pretty eyes and a killer smile. He was a favorite because he was kind to everyone. He was a laid-back kid. I never saw him angry. He was respectful to adults. He was a BFF to girls and boys. I never knew he wanted to be in law enforcement, but I can see why he was. He had a protecting way about him. He had the calming spirit to diffuse a situation and remain level-headed. It always hurts a teacher to lose a student. They become our babies. I’m honored that I knew Drew Hanson and got to see what a wonderful man he turned out to be.”
Another one of his teachers, Cindy Baird, recalled the impact Hanson had on her and others, even beyond the classroom.
“I was his 11th grade American history teacher at Indianola Academy. He was a sweet boy with a winning way. All the teachers liked him. He might not have made straight A’s but his personality made up for it! Drew always said he was going to major in criminal justice,” Baird said. “From time to time he’d come by the school and visit everyone. He always came by my classroom and would tell the students all about being in law enforcement. And of course everyone was always very impressed!”
Retired Indianola Academy Headmaster Charlie Mason enjoyed the young bull rider who became a full-fledged Colonel in the seventh grade.
“I loved Drew and was very proud of him as a student and man,” Mason said. “He was well liked by his peers and was an intense competitor on the football field. His teachers loved him too, even though he could sometimes be a rascal. His coaches respected him because he was a tough competitor who wanted to win. He was undersized for a lineman but made up for it with hard work and total commitment. His teachers also loved him.”
He noted that the future U.S. marshal charmed teachers and administration with his personality and character.
“As a young student he could be a rascal, but his kind heart and charm always won them over. I was the high school principal and began working with Drew when he entered the seventh grade. He was a bright young man filled with curiosity and spirit. He loved his friends and football. At that time his dream was to ride bulls for a living. When he was older, he did ride bulls and also worked as a rodeo clown, but law enforcement turned out to be his calling. Even as a young man he had had a desire to help and serve others and I was not surprised that he ultimately became a law enforcement officer. Drew, like most of my students who entered law enforcement, was dedicated, loyal and good hearted, but not exactly an angel in their youth. I will say that he always had an interest in fairness and would intervene if he saw someone picking on people.”
Mason explained that Drew stood out.
“His love for others is what I remember most. If you were on his team or in his class, he loved you! He was a good lineman on the football team even though he was undersized. He made up for his lack of size with good fundamentals and strong will. He loved being part of a team and was always loyal and protective of his teammates. He loved competing and always gave his all to help the team. Drew also made time to talk with the younger students and encourage them. Drew could be depended on to have your back and he always stood up for those who needed him. He had good relationships with his teachers too. He was not a straight A student, but he was always respectful to his teachers and willing to help them with anything they needed. That does not mean that he would not prank them occasionally, but when he did it was always in jest. He was also very capable of putting on the charm which made it very difficult to stay mad at him. If Drew loved you, he really loved you!”
He was an exceptional student in many ways that stood out, not only in the classroom but across all things Indianola Academy.
“Drew had an impact in every area at IA. He was always helping the teachers. He ran errands and was happy to carry things for them. Drew was also a good friend to his classmates and always spent time with our elementary students. He was always there to listen to the young kids and encouraged them to do their best. He was also very helpful to all of the secretaries,” Mason said. “He carried heavy things for teachers or brought them lunch from the cafeteria. They all loved him and looked for him when they needed help.”
And it was that calling to help that also made Drew stand out.
“What I remember most about Drew was his willingness to get involved and help. In all the years he was at IA he never walked past anyone who needed help. He was always willing to give help to students, teachers, coaches, secretaries and administrators. No matter what the need was, Drew was there to help. He had a great love for people and being of service to others flowed from that love. I know that those traits made him an outstanding husband, father, friend and officer, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to know him as a student and a man. His parents, wife and children are in my prayers and I hope they know that the IA family is mourning with them and lifting them up.”
Hanson competed on the gridiron for Head Football Coach Tommy Nester as a linebacker and offensive guard and helped the team to the second round of the playoffs.
“I met Drew my first year at IA in 2007 when he was a junior,” Coach Nester said. “He was a young man who always had a smile for everyone. He was a hard worker in the weight room and played with a lot of intensity on Friday nights. Drew led by example, always demanding the best of himself and he expected that same effort from his teammates. In high school, Drew had a passion for rodeo, especially bull riding and bull fighting. Whatever he was doing, he wanted to do his best!”
Retired IA Teacher Lynn Delas knew that Drew blessed everyone who ventured through his path.
“Drew was strong and appeared a tough guy but was actually very kind and loved by teachers and students. After he graduated, he was good about coming back to see us at IA, and we always loved hearing of his progress toward becoming a federal marshal. He was very committed to that goal. I feel blessed for having known him,” Delas said.
Hanson’s law enforcement career reflected a steady widening of responsibility. According to public reports and statements, he began his career with the Gulfport Police Department in 2013. He later served as an enforcement officer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and joined the Ocean Springs Police Department in 2015, serving there until 2016 before moving into federal service.
His federal career included service with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Nogales, Arizona, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Orleans. In 2020, he joined the U.S. Marshals Service, where he served in the Southern District of Alabama and later with the Western District of Louisiana Fugitive Task Force.
By the time of his death, Hanson had become part of one of law enforcement’s most dangerous missions: finding and arresting fugitives. U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta said Hanson was “selflessly devoted to making his community and this nation safer.”
“The nation lost a hero Monday. We are all extremely saddened by this tragic loss of Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson when he was shot and killed by a dangerous fugitive,” Serralta said in a U.S. Marshals Service statement. “His life mattered. Our thoughts and prayers are now with his family and friends, and our law enforcement community. Drew was selflessly devoted to making his community and this nation safer. His sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said U.S. marshals “risk their lives every day — securing our courts, protecting our communities, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with local law enforcement to bring dangerous fugitives to justice.” Hanson, Blanche said, “embodied that courage and dedication.”
Blanche also said Hanson, “paid the ultimate price while protecting our communities,” adding that his sacrifice “will never be forgotten” and that his service would “forever stand as an inspiration to all who wear the badge.”
Serralta, in another statement, said: “Our men and women put their lives on the line every day to apprehend the country’s most dangerous criminals.” He continued, “When a Deputy U.S. Marshal is killed in the line of duty serving an arrest warrant on a violent fugitive, this agency, and indeed the entire country, mourns that loss. While we are all profoundly heartbroken by Drew Hanson’s tragic death, we are, at the same time, grateful for his unselfish devotion to protecting his community and those he loved.”
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana said his office joined the community and the Department of Justice “in mourning and honoring the loss of this Deputy Marshal – a man who was a father, a husband, a son, and a child of God – as someone who paid the ultimate price in service of our community’s safety.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The FBI offers our deepest condolences to the family of Deputy U.S. Marshal Hanson.” He added that the bureau would commit its “full force of resources” to work with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Justice “to ensure the individual responsible for this horrific act is brought to justice.”
The FBI’s New Orleans Field Office said after the shooting that it had responded with Alexandria police, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police and was “leading the investigation into an assault on a federal officer.” The office said the subject had been taken into custody and that there was “no ongoing threat to the public.”
For his family, his colleagues and the communities he served, Hanson’s legacy now rests in two intertwined truths: he wore the badge with courage, and he lived beyond it with kindness. He leaves behind a record of duty, family and friends who loved him deeply, and a name carried forward in the memories of those who say his sacrifice will not be forgotten – Indianola’s own adopted son, Drew Hanson.
