In Levittown, Pennsylvania, a tragic event unfolded as a man now faces charges for the murder of three family members. This incident also involved carjackings in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The authorities announced these developments on Sunday.
Andre Gordon Jr., 26, finds himself facing serious accusations. In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, he’s charged with three counts of murder in both the first and second degrees. He’s also facing charges of aggravated assault, robbery, and more, as per the court documents. Over in New Jersey, Gordon faces charges related to carjacking and weapons offenses, as stated by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.
Platkin expressed his concern over the incident, highlighting it as a grim example of the dangers posed by illegal firearms and assault rifles. He emphasized the commitment to seeking justice for the victims and holding Gordon accountable for his actions.
As of now, Pennsylvania court documents do not show any attorney representing Gordon. Moreover, a phone number listed under his name was not in service. New Jersey authorities have yet to provide information about a defense attorney for Gordon in their state.
The series of unfortunate events began on a Saturday morning around 8:40 a.m. in Trenton, New Jersey. Gordon carjacked a vehicle and then drove to Levittown in Falls Township, Pennsylvania. There, he tragically ended the lives of his stepmother and sister. Following this, he drove to another location in Levittown, where he killed the mother of his two children.
The victims were identified by Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn as 52-year-old Karen Gordon, the suspect’s stepmother; 13-year-old Kera Gordon, his sister; and 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children. The children were present in the home during the incident. Additionally, Daniel’s mother was assaulted with the weapon and had to be hospitalized for treatment.
Gordon’s spree continued as he carjacked another vehicle in Morrisville and returned to Trenton. Despite a police cordon, Gordon managed to evade capture for hours. He was eventually arrested around 5 p.m., unarmed, while walking down a street a few blocks away from the surrounded home.
The motive behind these attacks remains unclear. Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney mentioned that Gordon had minor legal issues in the past but nothing that hinted at the possibility of such actions.
The chaos led to the cancellation of a St. Patrick’s Day parade and the closure of a Sesame Street-themed amusement park. Several other businesses also chose to shut down. A shelter-in-place order was issued in some areas of Bucks County for a few hours.
Platkin remarked that the crimes caused alarm and terror in the communities of Bucks and Mercer counties. Currently, Gordon is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center. Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson stated that Gordon would be extradited to Pennsylvania in due course.