Current:Home > InvestMan faces charges in two states after alleged killings of family members in Pennsylvania-LoTradeCoin
Man faces charges in two states after alleged killings of family members in Pennsylvania
View Date:2024-12-23 20:11:17
LEVITTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A man faces murder charges in Pennsylvania and carjacking and weapons charges in New Jersey after allegedly killing three family members, carjacking vehicles in both states and evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilized in two states, authorities said Sunday.
Andre Gordon Jr., 26, is charged in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 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.
“The string of violent acts ... is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor,” Platkin said. “We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions.”
Court documents in Pennsylvania don’t list an attorney for Gordon and a number listed in his name wasn’t in service. New Jersey authorities said they had no information as yet on a defense attorney for Gordon in that state.
Gordon carjacked a vehicle in Trenton around 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.
The victims were identified by Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn on Saturday as the suspect’s 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon; and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon; and 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were present at the time of the shooting in that home. He is also charged with having beaten Daniel’s mother with the assault weapon; she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
He then carjacked a second vehicle in Morrisville and returned to Trenton, authorities said. Police surrounded a home for hours in the belief that he was there, but Gordon apparently slipped out before the police cordon went up. He was arrested at around 5 p.m., unarmed, when he was spotted walking down a street a few blocks away, police said.
Officials in Pennsylvania said they couldn’t yet speak to a motive for the attacks. While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were “nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen,” Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference.
The mayhem forced the cancellation of a St. Patrick’s Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park, and a number of other businesses elected to close as well, authorities said. Authorities in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours.
Platkin said the crimes “alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties.”
Gordon is currently being held is being lodged at the Mercer County Correction Center. Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said Gordon would be extradited to Pennsylvania “at some point.”
veryGood! (121)
Related
- FanDuel Sports Network regional channels will be available as add-on subscription on Prime Video
- US jobs report for August could point to a moderating pace of hiring as economy gradually slows
- A Chicago boy, 5, dies after he apparently shot himself with a gun he found in an Indiana home
- Indiana Republican Party elects longtime activist Anne Hathaway its new chairperson
- Supreme Court seems likely to allow class action to proceed against tech company Nvidia
- Federal health agency recommends easing marijuana restrictions
- Ex-Proud Boys organizer gets 17 years in prison, second longest sentence in Jan. 6 Capitol riot case
- Judge halts drag show restrictions from taking effect in Texas
- Taylor Swift drops Christmas merchandise collection, including for 'Tortured Poets' era
- Pictures of Idalia's aftermath in Georgia, Carolinas show damage and flooding from hurricane's storm surge
Ranking
- How Kim Kardashian Navigates “Uncomfortable” Situations With Her 4 Kids
- Prepare to be Charmed by Kaley Cuoco's Attempt at Recreating a Hair Tutorial
- Alabama lawmaker’s assistant charged in scheme to misuse grant money
- Alabama governor announces plan to widen Interstate 65 in Shelby County, other projects
- New York eyes reviving congestion pricing toll before Trump takes office
- Former basketball coach gets nearly 21-year sentence for producing child sex abuse material
- From conspiracy theories to congressional hearings: How UFOs became mainstream in America
- Taylor Swift 'overjoyed' to release Eras Tour concert movie: How to watch
Recommendation
-
Former West Virginia jail officer pleads guilty to civil rights violation in fatal assault on inmate
-
A man convicted this month of killing his girlfriend has escaped from a Pennsylvania prison
-
Khloe Kardashian Makes Son Tatum Thompson’s Name Official
-
EU grapples with its African army training dilemma as another coup rocks the continent
-
The charming Russian scene-stealers of 'Anora' are also real-life best friends
-
Where RHOSLC's Meredith Marks and Lisa Barlow Stand Today After Years-Long Feud
-
Tori Spelling Pens Tribute to Her and Dean McDermott’s “Miracle Baby” Finn on His 11th Birthday
-
2 dead, 3 injured in shooting at Austin business, authorities say