TRENTON, N.J. — In a recent development, police are delving into the case following the apprehension of a 26-year-old male. This individual is under suspicion for the murder of three people, including his 13-year-old sister, across two separate residences in Pennsylvania. Following these tragic events, he is reported to have hijacked a vehicle and made his escape to New Jersey, according to the police.
The suspect, identified as Andre Gordon, stands accused of the triple homicide that occurred on a Saturday morning in Falls Township, as per the statements from the authorities. After committing these heinous acts, he crossed state borders, leading to his subsequent arrest. The assaults were executed using an AR-15 style assault rifle, as disclosed by Nelson Whitney, the Police Chief of Falls Township.
Trenton’s Police Director, Steve Wilson, confirmed on Saturday, “He’s in custody. No one else was injured.”
The series of crimes prompted temporary shelter-in-place directives for the residents of Falls Township while the search for the suspect was underway. The search concluded miles away in Trenton, New Jersey, where Gordon now faces charges related to carjacking and illegal possession of a firearm.
Wilson shared that Gordon was apprehended without any complications. Initially, Trenton authorities believed he had barricaded himself inside a residence, leading to the establishment of a perimeter around the area.
“Apparently, before the perimeter was completed, the suspect managed to leave the location undetected. We were under the impression he was still inside,” Wilson remarked.
Mayor Reed Gusciora of Trenton later stated that Gordon was arrested two blocks away from the suspected barricade location. At the time of his arrest, Gordon was unarmed and cooperated with the police. Gusciora expressed his gratitude following the arrest.
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri announced intentions to extradite Gordon back to Pennsylvania to face murder charges. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Gordon faces seven charges, including first-degree carjacking and unlawful possession of a weapon, as per a news release from the office of state Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
Platkin commented on the incident, highlighting the terror and alarm caused by the violent spree in both Bucks and Mercer counties. He pointed out the broader issue of illegal firearms and assault rifles enabling individuals to cause widespread harm.
It remains unclear whether Gordon has legal representation.
Here’s a summary of the events and the ongoing investigation:
The crime spree began just before 9 a.m. when Falls Township Police responded to a shooting report on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, Pennsylvania. Gordon, driving a stolen vehicle from Trenton, fatally shot his stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his sister, Kera Gordon, inside their home. Three other family members, including a minor, managed to hide from Gordon during his search through the house, as stated by Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn.
Shortly after, Gordon proceeded to Edgewood Lane, breaking into another home to fatally shoot Taylor Daniel, the mother of two of his children. Four others were inside the home during this attack, including children and Daniel’s mother, who was injured by Gordon and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Following the shootings, Gordon carjacked a 44-year-old driver at gunpoint in a Dollar General parking lot in Morrisville at around 9:13 a.m. The driver was unharmed.
The stolen Honda CRV was later found abandoned in Trenton around 11:38 a.m. Subsequently, Pennsylvania authorities were informed around 12:20 p.m. that Gordon was believed to be barricaded inside a Trenton home. Despite initial beliefs, the suspect had left the house before a perimeter was established.
Residents of the house were evacuated through an upstairs window, under the belief that Gordon was still inside. However, after hours of surrounding the house and making calls to the suspect, officers spotted him walking down a nearby street and took him into custody.
Falls Township Police had previously indicated that the suspect was believed to be armed with an assault rifle used in the crimes, and possibly other weapons.
A shelter-in-place order for Falls Township was lifted once it was confirmed that Gordon was in New Jersey. The township is located about 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia, near the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border.
The victims were identified as Gordon’s family members, including his stepmother, sister, and the mother of two of his children. The shootings are believed to be domestic-related.
Authorities are still investigating, searching the home and the carjacked vehicle for the weapon used in the shootings. The mayor stated that Gordon would remain in custody in New Jersey until his extradition to Pennsylvania.
The FBI office in Philadelphia is closely monitoring the situation and working with local partners.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has been briefed on the incident, and local residents are relieved by the peaceful resolution. Mayor Gusciora praised the community’s cooperation with the police efforts.
The Pennsylvania State Police are assisting with the investigation, and efforts are underway to ensure residents affected by the use of tear gas in the area have a place to stay.
This report was contributed to by CNN’s Jeff Winter, Sarah Dewberry, Michelle Watson, Braden Walker, Adrienne Vogt, Matt Meyer, and Danny Freeman.