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Suspect in shooting at federal judge's N.J. home found dead, law enforcement sources say

Posted at 7:02 AM, Jul 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-20 13:18:24-04

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A man found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday is believed to be connected to a shootingat a federal judge's New Jersey home Sunday, killing her son and injuring her husband, law enforcement sources told PIX11 News.

The man was found dead in a vehicle on Route 17 in Sullivan County, New York, wearing a FedEx shirt, sources said.

Gov. Phil Murphy said he had no comment about the development when asked about it Monday at his daily press briefing.

The discovery comes after a gunman opened fire at Judge Esther Salas' North Brunswick home Sunday, killing her 20-year-old son, Daniel, and wounding her husband, defense lawyer Mark Anderl, Chief District Judge Freda Wolfson told the Associated Press.

Another law enforcement source, who wasn’t authorized to comment and spoke anonymously to the AP Sunday, said the gunman posed as a FedEx delivery driver.

They said Salas wasn't injured as she was in the basement at the time of the shooting.

The FBI said late Sunday it was looking for one suspect in connection with the shooting.

Officials have not commented on any possible motive for the shooting.

Judge Salas was set to preside over a class action lawsuit filed last Wednesday against Deutsche Bank. The suit claims the bank failed to properly monitor several high risk customer accounts, including one belonging to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Gov. Murphy Sunday called the shooting a "senseless act."

"This tragedy is our latest reminder that gun violence remains a crisis in our country and that our work to make every community safer isn’t done," he said.

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

North Brunswick Mayor Mac Womack said in a statement: "No words can express the sadness and loss we share tonight as a community after [the] senseless shootings...We commit to do all we can to support the family at this time, as well as all law enforcement agencies involved."

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office assisted the North Brunswick Police Department in the investigation.

This story originally reported by Aliza Chasan , Associated Press , Katie Corrado on PIX11.com.