The son of a prominent New Jersey federal judge was shot dead and her husband was seriously injured at his home Sunday night, according to reports.
An unknown assailant dressed as a Federal Express delivery driver shot dead Judge Esther Salas’ 20-year-old son Daniel Anderl, and shot her husband Mark Anderl, 63, at the North Brunswick estate around 5:00 p.m. pm, authorities said. New Jersey Globe.
Salas was not injured.
Salas, who sentenced “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice to more than a year in prison for fraud in 2014, has served as a judge of the United States District Court in Newark for nine years. She has also been responsible for several other high-profile cases, including those involving street gang leaders.
Authorities believe Mark Anderl, a well-regarded criminal defense attorney, opened the door and was shot to death for the first time, police sources told NBC New York. When his son came running to see what was happening, he was mortally wounded.
Salas is believed to have been in the basement of the house at the time of the attack, sources said.
Mark Anderl was in critical but stable condition Sunday night after undergoing surgery at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, the Globe reported.
Daniel Anderl, a student at Catholic University in Washington, DC, was pronounced dead.
It was not immediately clear who the target of the shooting was, but Salas had recently received threats, according to the report.
The gunman was released Sunday night when a massive response from law enforcement was taking place, authorities said.
Salas is the first Hispanic woman to serve at the state federal bank. She worked as a public defender and federal magistrate before President Barack Obama nominated her to serve as District Court Judge in 2010.
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