Cherry maker shoots himself as police unmask his business as marijuana production plant

Arthur Mondella's maraschino cherry factory near the waterfront in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighbourhood had seen its ups and downs.

It survived Superstorm Sandy, recession and America's finicky tastes to keep churning out millions of the sweet, sticky accoutrements that grace hot fudge sundaes and cocktails like Shirley Temples and Manhattans.

When investigators checking on possible environmental violations visited the business on Tuesday, though, Mondella's confident facade collapsed.

After excusing himself to use the toilet, Mondella shot himself, bringing a shocking end to the cherry maker's life and leaving officials to sort out how much of his money came from growing marijuana and how much from maraschino cherries.

By Wednesday, Mondella's story was captivating New York and drawing comparisons to the TV hit Breaking Bad, about a struggling high school chemistry teacher who turns to making methamphetamine to take care of his family.

There was no indication that Mondella's business, Dell's Maraschino Cherries, was struggling. In fact, he had described things as on the upswing following a rebranding effort and an investment in equipment to modernise production.