Suspect in shooting of federal judge’s family found dead with apparent self-inflicted wound

The son of New Jersey federal Judge Esther Salas was killed Sunday evening when a gunman who may have appeared as a FedEx worker opened fire on her family.

Daniel Anderl, 20, was killed after he opened the door to their family home in North Brunswick, New Jersey, Chief District Judge Freda Wolfson told the Associated Press. His father, Mark Anderl, a defense attorney who was standing behind him, was injured and underwent surgery at a local hospital.

Salas, who was in the basement at the time of the shooting, was reportedly unharmed.

The FBI said it is investigating the incident, searching for “one subject” and urging anyone with information to get in touch with them. The suspect was later found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound near Liberty, New York, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

The man, who is white, wore a face covering with his FedEx uniform. His body was found by a municipal worker. Sources said he was an attorney who had a case before Salas in 2015.

Law enforcement sources told multiple news outlets that the gunman might have been dressed as a FedEx deliveryman, but it remains unclear whether the person was actually a FedEx worker or just dressed as one. The company told CNN it was aware of what happened and are cooperating with authorities.

Salas, who was nominated to her role in 2011 by President Barack Obama, was recently assigned to handle a class-action lawsuit against Deutsche Bank on behalf of investors who purchased securities between November 2017 to July 6 of this year. The complaint said the bank “failed to properly monitor customers that the Bank itself deemed to be high risk, including, among others, the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.”

Salas has also presided over other high-profile cases, including a fraud case of two stars of the Real Housewives of New Jersey and the 2018 sentencing of Farad Roland, who was found guilty of federal racketeering charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

New Jersey politicians expressed their condolences for Salas’s family, including Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

“Judge Salas and her family are in our thoughts at this time as they cope with this senseless act,” Murphy wrote in a tweet.

“I know Judge Salas and her husband well, and was proud to recommend her to President Obama for nomination to NJ’s federal bench,” Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez wrote. “My prayers are with Judge Salas and her family, and that those responsible for this horrendous act are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.”