TRENTON, N.J. — A 26-year-old suspect wanted in the shooting deaths of three of his relatives surrendered to authorities in Trenton, New Jersey, officials announced Saturday evening. The shootings took place on the same day at two separate residences in Levittown, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.
Authorities reported that Andre Gordon Jr. was apprehended a few blocks away from the home where a standoff had occurred. After leaving the residence before the standoff began, he was spotted by officers.
“The suspect has been located at a different location in Trenton, where he surrendered peacefully,” a spokesperson for the Trenton police informed CBS News via email.
SWAT teams had surrounded a home on Phillips Avenue in Trenton, suspecting Gordon might be inside with hostages. However, it was later confirmed by the Trenton police that all residents had safely evacuated.
On the morning of the incident, Falls Township Police detailed the suspect’s actions, starting with a forced entry into a home on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown. The victims were identified as Karen Gordon, 52, and Kera Gordon, 13, who were fatally shot. Karen Gordon was Andre Gordon’s stepmother, while Kera Gordon was his sister.
The suspect then proceeded to another residence on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where he shot and killed 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of Gordon’s children. A fourth individual in the home was struck by the rifle but is expected to survive.
Law enforcement officials were able to track the suspect to the home on Phillips Avenue in Trenton following multiple incidents of shootings and carjackings in both Trenton and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, earlier that morning.
The manhunt prompted heightened alertness in numerous Bucks County communities, resulting in a shelter-in-place order, several business closures, and the cancellation of the Falls Township St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
In response to the violence, Falls Township residents were instructed to stay indoors upon receiving emergency alerts. Local law enforcement, along with Pennsylvania State Police support, actively engaged in the ongoing investigation. Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized the importance of sheltering in place until further notice.
The situation prompted the closure of Sesame Place amusement park, the Oxford Valley Mall, and various businesses in Middletown Township. The Pennsbury School District postponed all activities, with student safety being a top priority.
With ongoing investigations and a heightened state of vigilance, authorities advised individuals to refrain from traveling to Falls Township unless absolutely necessary. Langhorne police, in particular, voiced their perception that the suspect had not entered their jurisdiction.