Gunman Accused of Killing Family Members

Fatal Shooting in Pennsylvania

The gunman accused of fatally shooting his family members, including a 13-year-old girl, in Pennsylvania before fleeing to New Jersey had barricaded himself inside a home in Trenton with hostages, officials said. The suspected shooter, Andre Gordon, 26, allegedly shot and killed the victims Saturday morning at two locations in Levittown, Pennsylvania. Police said he then carjacked a driver at gunpoint and fled to New Jersey where he was “tracked to his home” in Trenton.

SWAT Team on Scene

SWAT team members from the Trenton Police Department were on scene, authorities in Pennsylvania said. Lisette Rios, a spokesperson for Trenton police, said Saturday afternoon that authorities believe no more hostages were in the home and that Gordon was inside by himself.

Timeline of Events

The incident began around 8:52 a.m. when officers were dispatched to a residence on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown following a report of a shooting, Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said in a news release.

Details of the Shootings

Jennifer Schorn, the district attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said Gordon, driving a stolen vehicle from Trenton, forced his way into the home and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon.

Carjacking Incident

At around 9:13 a.m., he allegedly carjacked a 44-year-old man at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General store in Morrisville. The driver was not injured, authorities said.

Vehicle Located in Trenton

The vehicle was located unoccupied in Trenton around 11:38 a.m., the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said.

Police Caution

Police in Pennsylvania had said earlier that Gordon was homeless with connections to Trenton. They said he was in possession of an assault rifle, which he allegedly used in the shootings. Police said he could have additional weapons and cautioned that he was “extremely dangerous.”

Shelter-in-Place Order

The shootings led to a shelter-in-place in Falls Township. Police had told residents to lock their doors and move to a secure location away from windows. The shelter-in-place order was lifted Saturday afternoon.

Impact on Community

A Bucks County St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled, and the Pennsbury School District postponed activities. In nearby Middletown Township, residents were told not to travel to Falls Township. Middletown Township police later said they “received information that we are all clear.”

Law Enforcement Response

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said he is in touch with law enforcement. Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was briefed on the incident and asked the state police to assist local law enforcement. Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said that authorities had minor contact with Gordon in the past but said it was “nothing that would indicate anything like this would happen.”

Location Details

Levittown is in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, about 26 miles from the city.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Read More of this Story at www.nbcnews.com – 2024-03-16 19:01:50

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