Gunman in custody after three shot dead in Philadelphia suburb
A man has been taken into custody after an hours-long standoff with police at a residence in Trenton, New Jersey.
Authorities say 26-year-old Andre Gordon fatally shot his sister, stepmother and mother of his two children on Saturday morning in Pennsylvania. The shootings happened at two different residences around 9am before he fled the second scene and stole a car in a Dollar General parking lot.
Speaking at an afternoon news conference, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Mr Gordon barricaded himself at a duplex on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in Trenton. The Trenton Police Department responded to the incident and confirmed that the standoff was over.
“He’s in custody. No one else was injured,” Trenton, New Jersey, Police Director Steve Wilson told CNN. Officials said the man previously had hostages inside of the residence but they are now safe.
SWAT officers and a tactical vehicle also responded to the scene. Officials asked the man to come out with his hands up.
Falls Township Chief of Police Nelson Whitney said that officials have had previous interactions with the suspect but nothing that would lead them to believe that something like this could happen.
Officials responded to calls about the first residence shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, where the suspect allegedly killed his stepmother Karen Gordon, 52, and sister Kera Gordon, 13. Several family members at the home, including a 14-year-old were able to hide from the shooter as he searched for them, Ms Schorn added.
Police said Mr Gordon drove to the residence with a stolen vehicle and was armed with an AR-15 style assault rifle. Shortly after the first shooting, police responded to calls about the second on Edgewood Lane.
In that incident, Mr Gordon forced his way into the home and allegedly fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children. Four other individuals were present inside that home, including Ms Daniel’s mother and her two children. Ms Daniel’s mother was allegedly bludgeoned by Mr Gordon with the assault rifle.
She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Following the two shootings, the suspect stole an unidentified 44-year-old man’s Honda CRV. Police say the victim did not suffer any physical injuries. Police later recovered the car after it was found unoccupied.
Earlier in the morning, residents of Middletown in Pennsylvania were urged not to travel to Falls Township until further notice. A shelter-in-place for the area was lifted around 12.30pm ET after police located the suspect.
It’s believed that Mr Gordon is homeless but primarily stays in Trenton.