TRENTON, NJ – A 26-year-old man suspected of three murders in Pennsylvania and two carjackings was arrested Saturday in Trenton, according to Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.
On March 16, at around 8:52 a.m., Falls Township Police were dispatched to the unit block of Viewpoint Lane in Levittown to investigate the report of a shooting, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
A preliminary investigation determined that Gordon allegedly carjacked a vehicle in the parking lot of Donnelly Homes in Trenton at around 8:40 a.m., drove to Viewpoint Lane and forcibly broke into the residence after which he shot and killed his stepmother 52-year-old Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon who live at that residence, officials said.
There were three other residents, including a juvenile, inside who were able to hide and avoid Gordon as he went through the house, authorities said.
Following the shooting, at around 9:01 a.m., Gordon drove to the unit block of Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where he forcibly broke into a residence after which he shot and killed 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, with whom he had two children, officials said.
At the time of the shooting, there were four other individuals present inside, one of which was injured after being bludgeoned by Gordon with the assault rifle. She was transported to Jefferson Hospital, Torresdale Campus, for injuries, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said.
Following the shooting he fled the scene, authorities said.
Then at around 9:13 a.m., Gordon committed a carjacking at gunpoint of a 44-year-old male Morrisville resident, in the parking lot of the Dollar General in Bristol Pike, Morrisville. The man did not suffer any injuries as a result, officials said.
Police issued a shelter in place a short time later, authorities said.
Then at around 11:38 a.m., the Honda CRV was located, unoccupied, in the 100 block of Miller Street in Trenton, officials said.
At around12:22 p.m., police received information that Gordon was barricaded with hostages inside a residence in the 100 block of Phillips Street in Trenton. He was then later apprehended on New York Avenue at around 5:00 p.m., authorities said.
Then at around 12:25 p.m., Falls Township police lifted the shelter in place order, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said.
Gordon was charged by New Jersey authorities with first-degree carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, third-degree unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, third-degree receiving stolen property, fourth-degree unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines, and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition, Platkin said.
Gordon is being lodged at the Mercer County Correction Center, Platkin said.
“He will be charged in Bucks County at the appropriate time,” the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said.
Approximately 60 officers from the Mercer County Rapid Response Partnership (MCRRP) responded to assist in Trenton. They included officers from East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence, Princeton, Robbinsville, West Windsor, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, The College of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“The string of violent acts that took place yesterday, allegedly at the hands of a single armed individual, alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties. It is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor to do immense damage and leave a trail of tragedies in their wake,” Platkin said. “I am grateful to all the brave law enforcement officers who mobilized in the face of grave danger and helped ensure this incident ended without further harm. We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions.”
“As law enforcement officers, we rely on our professional training and experience when handling events like this. These situations are challenging and show the dangers law enforcement officers face daily,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “I’d like to thank all of the agencies involved in safely bringing this violent and tragic incident to an end.”
“Yesterday’s events are a profound tragedy and a shock that instilled fear in many residents in two states,” said J. Stephen Ferketic, director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. “Thankfully, they ended with the apprehension of the suspect without further gunfire. We will work closely with our partners in Bucks County to ensure that the defendant answers for his alleged crimes in both Trenton and Falls Township.”
“I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to our federal, state, and local partners for their overwhelming response and assistance in apprehending this extremely dangerous individual,” said Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. “We’ve been in constant contact with Bucks County authorities and will work expeditiously to ensure that Andre Gordon is returned to Pennsylvania to face his murder charges.”
“My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims and their families,” said Police Director Steve Wilson of the Trenton Police Department. “I’d like to thank the local, county, and state authorities for their immediate deployment of additional resources that helped prevent further injury and loss of life to the public and to any law enforcement officer. We are pleased that this incident ended with the peaceful apprehension of the suspect.”
