Federal Judge Dies Of Self-Inflicted Gunshot

MIAMI, FL — Federal Administrative Law Judge Timothy Maher, who had multiple run-ins with local police in recent days, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday following an overnight standoff with Miami-Dade police at a suburban Miami home, according to Miami-Dade police. A family that was in the home at the time made it out unharmed, including a 13-year-old girl.

"A gunshot was heard. Three people exited. Our Special Response Team made entry and confirmed that there was one person dead," explained Detective Chris Thomas of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

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Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department later identified the family members who were held hostage as Jose Rodriguez, Ana Rodriguez and their daughter.

Thomas said that police waited to enter the home in an attempt to diffuse the standoff. Police did not immediately confirm that Maher was the person who took his life during the incident at SW 113 Avenue and SW 240 Street.

He said that police had been communicating with the three people who had been held hostage in the home.

"They were receiving messages via text just saying 'help, we need help' basically," Thomas said.

In recent days, Maher had been accused of assault and child abuse with no bodily harm, a possible road rage incident and saw three consecutive nights of police raids. The 51-year-old administrative judge was arrested after allegedly pointing a gun at his ex-girlfriend, according to news reports.

Maher, who dealt with Social Security disability cases, had maintained his innocence. "I did not have a gun on me last night. I did not point a gun at anyone. I was handing my son over to his mother," the judge reportedly said in court following the incident involving his former girlfriend. "This is horrifically embarrassing to me. It is career threatening."

Photo by Paul Scicchitano