A suspect was arrested in New Jersey after allegedly shooting dead three family members in a Philadelphia suburb on Saturday.
Philadelphia: Another shooting incident has come to light in the United States where three people were killed in a Philadelphia suburb on Saturday. The “extremely dangerous” suspect, who fled the scene following a carjacking, was taken unto custody in New Jersey following an hour-long effort to arrest him. According to Trenton Police Department spokesperson Lisette Rios, the suspect was identified as 26-year-old Andre Gordon, who “surrendered peacefully,” after a series of violent incidents that prompted shelter-in-place orders in two states, AFP reported. Gordon allegedly killed three people at two different homes Pennsylvania’s Falls Township before carjacking a driver and heading for New Jersey.
Accused Killed Stepmother
The accused, who is believed to be homeless, started his day by carjacking a vehicle in Trenton and drove to Levittown. There he killed two people – his 52-year-old stepmother and his 13-year-old sister. Three other people in the house managed to hide as the accused was searching for them. Bucks County, Pennsylvania district attorney Jennifer Schorn said in a briefing.
Killed Another Woman
He then drove to a nearby house where he shot and killed 25-year-old woman, the mother of his two children. He then went to a discount store and carjacked a Honda vehicle from a 44-year-old man before fleeing.
Gordon then drove to Trenton, where he barricaded himself in a three-story house.
Armed And ‘Extremely Dangerous’
According to the police, the accused was armed with AR-15 style assault rifle and was “extremely dangerous.”
The police appealed to Gordon, when he barricaded himself in a three-story house, to surrender.
“Andre, get away from the windows. We know you’re inside, if you’d like to surrender, dial 911 now, You’re a young man, you have too much to live for,” police said over a loudspeaker. Later in the day, he was located at another location in Trenton.
According to Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson, Gordon was walking in the street when a patrol officer approached him. However, It was not clear if the suspect had ever been in the house where cops had believed he was barricaded.
As Gordon crossed state lines, the US federal authorities — including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – get active and initiated a probe, along with local, county and state police.
Further details are awaited.