A former federal prosecutor who pursued public corruption in Newark and appeared on TV as a legal expert was found underneath a bridge in New Jersey Wednesday, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Traffic was backed up for hours on Route 17 in East Rutherford Wednesday evening as police investigated the apparent suicide of John Fahy.
Fahy, who was known across New Jersey as Jay, was an assistant U.S. attorney who led the public corruption unit in Newark, then served as prosecutor of Bergen County before going into private practice.
Fahy appeared on several TV programs, including MSNBC, as a legal expert.
"Jay was someone that all of us knew. So it obviously comes as a surprising shock to me as well," said Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli.
Fahy was found during rush hour by two men who had been walking underneath a trestle on Route 17. He had what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and there are no indications of foul play, according to law enforcement officials.
"One has to wonder, a person like Mr. Fahy, why he would bring himself to this," said Molinelli.
Route 17 was re-opened by 9 p.m.