By
The Associated Press
The man who led a strong police mobilization on Saturday faces murder charges in Pennsylvania and car and gun theft in New Jersey after allegedly killing three members of his family, stealing vehicles in both states and evading police for hours, reported The authorities.
Andre Gordon Jr., 26, is charged in Bucks County, Pennyilvania, with three counts of first- and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other charges, according to court documents.
In New Jersey, Gordon is charged with first-degree carjacking and weapons offenses, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement Sunday.
Andre Gordon in a photograph released by the police.
“The series of violent acts ... is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal firearms and assault rifles can empower an aggrieved and disturbed actor,” Platkin said.
“We will seek justice for the victims and hold the accused accountable for his reprehensible actions.”
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Court documents in Pennsylvania do not detail whether Gordon has an attorney and a phone number listed in his name was not in service.
New Jersey authorities also had no information about a defense attorney for Gordon in that state.
Gordon stole a vehicle in Trenton about 8:40 a.m. Saturday before driving to Levittown in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, and killing his stepmother and sister, authorities said.
He then drove to a second location in Levittown and killed the mother of his two children, authorities said.
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The victims were identified Saturday by Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn as the suspect's stepmother, Karen Gordon, 52;
and her 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon;
and Taylor Daniel, 25, mother of her two children, who were present at the time of the shooting in the home.
He is also accused of hitting Daniel's mother with the gun;
The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment.
He then stole a second vehicle in Morrisville and returned to Trenton, authorities said.
Police surrounded a house for hours believing he was there, but Gordon apparently escaped before the police cordon was lifted.
He was arrested around 5:00 p.m., unarmed, when he was seen walking down a street a few blocks away, police said.
Police enter an apartment in Trenton, New Jersey, where they believed Andre Gordon Jr. was hiding, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Matt Rourke / AP
Pennsylvania authorities said they could not yet discuss a motive for the attacks.
While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, “they were nothing to indicate that something like this would happen,” Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference.
The chaos forced the cancellation of a St. Patrick's Day parade and the closure of a Sesame Street-themed amusement park, and several other businesses decided to close as well, authorities said.
Authorities in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours.
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Platkin said the crimes “alarmed and terrified communities in Bucks and Mercer counties.”
Gordon is currently being held at the Mercer County Correctional Facility in New Jersey.
Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said Gordon would be extradited to Pennsylvania “at some point.”