Attack on judge: Shooting suspect's link to second killing probed

New York state police block off a road near the scene where the body of Roy Den Hollander was found near Livingston Manor, New York. Photo / AP

Federal investigators are examining whether a suspect in the ambush shooting of a federal judge's family in New Jersey also killed a fellow men's rights lawyer in California, a law enforcement official said.

The federal agents are trying to determine whether Roy Den Hollander, who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound the day after an attack that killed the judge's son and wounded her husband, had any role in the killing earlier this month of Marc Angelucci.

Angelucci, like Den Hollander, was involved in lawsuits alleging gender discrimination against men. He was shot to death July 11 at his home in San Bernardino County, California.

This is beyond awful and tragic. It’s why words by those in leadership positions, matter. Because they can trigger unstable people to do terrible things. In this case, murder.

Judge Salas Shooting Suspect Left Pro-Trump Paper Trail - The Atlantic https://t.co/rZ1Bm9eIxW

— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) July 21, 2020

The official cautioned the investigation was in its early stages and federal officials were working with local homicide detectives. In both cases, the suspect appeared to pose as a delivery driver, the official said.

Investigators are also examining Den Hollander's financial and travel records, as well as misogynistic screeds he posted online, said the official.

Den Hollander, 72, described himself as an "anti-feminist" lawyer who filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of "ladies night" promotions at bars and nightclubs, sued Columbia University for providing women's studies classes, and sued news organisations over what he said was biased coverage.

Attorney Roy Den Hollander is suspected of shooting the husband and son of US District Judge Esther Salas at her New Jersey home. The FBI identified him as the “primary subject,” and said that he is dead, the US Attorney’s office said. @brynnCNN reports.https://t.co/v4dZtEPyTq pic.twitter.com/4FdZXL6dWH

— New Day (@NewDay) July 21, 2020

The FBI said Den Hollander was the "primary subject in the attack" on Monday at the home of US District Judge Esther Salas in North Brunswick, New Jersey, where 20-year-old Daniel Anderl was killed and his father, Mark Anderl, 63, was wounded.

Mark Anderl remained in hospital and was expected to have more surgery today, according to Mayor Francis "Mac" Womack, a family friend.

Salas, 51, was in another part of the house and was unharmed.

Den Hollander was later found dead in Sullivan County, New York.

Investigators found items in his possession that raised concerns about whether he had targeted, or planned to target, other people, including a photograph of New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and the address of a state appeals courthouse, a state court spokesperson said.

Roy Den Hollander, whom the FBI called the “primary subject” in the shootings at Judge Salas’ home in New Jersey, may have been targeting at least one other female judge. https://t.co/twITWaiExe

— ABC News (@ABC) July 21, 2020

Both Den Hollander and Angelucci, 52, were involved in lawsuits seeking to force the US government to require all young women to join men in registering for a possible military draft.

Den Hollander's lawsuit, filed in 2015 on behalf of a woman in New Jersey, was assigned to Salas. He withdrew as the lawyer in the case a year ago after being diagnosed with cancer.

Harry Crouch, president of the National Coalition for Men, told AP that Den Hollander was furious that he hadn't been involved in a similar case being handled by Angelucci.

"Roy was just not happy that we did not involve him as a co-counsel. I think unhappy is an understatement," Crouch said. "He called me up and threatened me."

The shooting of Judge Salas’s family reminds me that the number one predictor of mass violence is a history of abusing women. I’m a little haunted the way the shooter in that case was treated as a ridiculous figure by the NY media and legal community for years.

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) July 21, 2020

Crouch said Den Hollander did not have a good reputation among other men's rights advocates.

"I think he was very hostile, very, very hostile that he finally went over the hill," Crouch said.

In more than 2000 pages of often misogynistic, racist writings posted online, Den Hollander had sharply criticised Salas and other female judges.

He also wrote about wanting to use the rest of his time on earth to "even the score" with his perceived enemies, using "cowboy justice."

Steven Svoboda, a spokesman for the National Coalition for Men who said he was speaking personally and not on behalf of the organisation, said Angelucci was "beloved" for his "groundbreaking legal work all. in his mind, to make the world a better place."

- AP