Steroid Investigation Results in Brooklyn Suicide

A Bay Ridge pharmacist embroiled in a public steroid investigation appears to have killed himself. John Rossi was found last night in the office above the pharmacy, with a fatal gunshot wound to his head and a pistol in his hand. Bottles of Johnnie Walker whiskey, Valium, and Coca-Cola were on the desk in front of his body; another bullet slug was found in the office, causing a police source to tell the Daily News, "He wanted to make sure."

An October 2007 raid alleged that dozens of cops were involved in a steroid distribution ring, although those initial accounts were discounted as wildly overblown. Still, something untoward seemed to have been going on as law enforcement seized $7.5 million of performance enhancing drugs and human growth hormones.

The steroid probe, conducted by Albany County D.A. David Soares, is part of a crackdown on steroid suppliers to alleged athlete users such as Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. After the raid on his pharmacy, it's reported that Rossi seemed to have changed, becoming quieter and more withdrawn. He left a hand-written note begging his wife's forgiveness before taking his life - the day after his daughter gave birth to a granddaughter. His wife was described as hysterical as she was whisked from the scene with her daughter. A friend of the family said, "There aren't enough kind words for him. He had everything to live for. With this steroid thing, the pressure had to be on him."