Man suspected of killing 3 family members in Levittown faces charges in New Jersey, Pennsylvania
TRENTON, NJ. (CBS) -- A 26-year-old man accused of fatally shooting three family members in Levittown, Pennsylvania, and carrying out two carjackings in Bucks County and Trenton is now facing a myriad of charges in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In a press release Sunday, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with New Jersey State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, and the Trenton Police Department, announced that Andre Gordon Jr. had been charged with first-degree carjacking, third-degree receiving stolen property and multiple gun violations.
"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," AG Platkin said in part in a statement. "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."
A criminal docket from Bucks County detailed 32 preliminary charges that Gordon will additionally face for the crimes he committed in Pennsylvania Saturday morning, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
The charges included but were not limited to three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, eight counts of recklessly endangering another person, robbery, unlawful restraint, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, possession of an instrument of crime, terroristic threats and more.
The multi-state search for Gordon began the morning of Saturday, March 16, when police in Falls Township, Pennsylvania said a suspect, later identified as Gordon, forced himself into a home on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown. Karen Gordon, 52, and Kera Gordon, 13, were fatally shot. Officials said Karen is Andre Gordon's stepmother and Kera is his sister.
Investigators said Andre Gordon then moved on to a second home on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where he's accused of shooting and killing 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, who is the mother of Andre Gordon's children. The Bucks County DA's Office said Andre Gordon also bludgeoned another woman in the residence with an assault rifle and she had be taken to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital for her injuries.
According to Platkin, Andre Gordon allegedly carjacked a vehicle from the parking lot of Donnelly Homes in Trenton around 8:40 a.m. before driving to Falls Township to carry out the shootings. He then carjacked another vehicle in a Dollar General parking lot in Morrisville, Pennsylvania and drove back to Trenton, Platkin said.
The second stolen vehicle was located by police at a home on Phillips Avenue in Trenton, where a standoff took place for nearly six hours Saturday afternoon.
According to the affidavit, the weapon was found at the home in Trenton, which SWAT teams surrounded when they thought Gordon was in there.
Authorities called it a "ghost gun assault rifle." Officials believe it was used in the carjackings and the murders.
Police said Andre Gordon was eventually arrested a couple blocks from the home where law enforcement had believed Gordon was barricaded, but that he had left the house before the standoff began. Bucks County officials said Andre Gordon cut his hair in an attempt to conceal his appearance before he was found by police.
Andre Gordon was located by officers on New York Avenue and is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center in New Jersey. Officials said he will soon be extradited and arraigned in Bucks County.
Pennsbury School District adding counselors in wake of student's death
As the investigation unfolded Saturday, the Pennsbury School District postponed all activities and participating students were taken inside the building.
The district also posted an update saying it would provide counselors and emotional support Sunday and Monday for their community after an eighth-grade student who attended Boehm Middle School died.
The district didn't identify the child by name, but said the student's death "occurred in connection with the events of today." Thirteen-year-old Kera Gordon, Andre Gordon's sister, was fatally shot on Saturday, March 16.
The Charles Boehm PTO said they are raising money for the Gordon family as they grieve the loss of Kera Gordon.
"Because this event has impacted our entire community, all of our administrators and school counselors are available to provide support to students who may need it," Superintendent Thomas Smith wrote in the announcement. "If you feel that your child is having difficulty coping with this event, please reach out to your building principal for assistance. We will work to support students during the days and weeks ahead."
Pennsbury School District planned to have counselors available for students, families and staff members on Sunday from 11 a.m. at Charles Boehm Middle School to 1 p.m. and again on Monday once the school week begins.