Suspect In Custody After Killing 3, Barricading Himself In NJ: Police

Updated: 5:40 p.m. Saturday

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —A man who killed two family members and the mother of his two children in a shooting Saturday is now in custody after a standoff in which he barricaded himself in a Trenton, N.J., home for several hours, authorities said.

Authorities said that Andre Gordon Jr. was taken into custody just before 5:30 p.m. He had held hostages, who were believed to be family members, who were released without harm just before he was captured without incident at another location away from the barricade.

Steve Wilson, police director for the city of Trenton, said Gordon was found near a house where he was believed to have barricaded himself and was taken into custody. No one else was injured.

Falls Township Police and Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn, in a press conference Saturday afternoon, said that Andre Gordon Jr. forcibly broke into one home and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, before going to another home and killing the mother of his two children.

Another woman is in critical condition after being bludgeoned by the man's assault rifle. She was transported to Jefferson Hospital, Torresdale Campus, for injuries, and authorities believe she is expected to recover.

See photos below of the crime scene in Lower Bucks County and Trenton, N.J.

Falls Township Police responded to a report of a shooting at a home on Viewpoint Lane in the township's Levittown section around 8:52 a.m. Saturday, Lt. Christopher Clark said.

The preliminary investigation determined that the 26-year-old Gordon, driving a stolen vehicle, shot and killed two people in the home. Police said that three other family members hid as Gordon searched the home.

RELATED: Pennsbury Student Among 3 Dead In Shootings

Gordon then went to another home on Edgewood Lane, Levittown, where he shot and killed Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, and bludgeoned her mother as his children watched before fleeing the scene just after 8 a.m., authorities said.

Authorities said they do not have a motive for the crime.

Gordon then carjacked a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Dollar General, Bristol Pike, Morrisville, police said.

The driver did not suffer any injuries as a result.

It is believed that Gordon knew all of the victims (except the victim of the carjacking), police said.

Falls Township Police said that a carjacked Honda CRV was located, unoccupied, in the 100 block of Miller Street in Trenton, N.J., just after 11:30 a.m.

One hour later, police received information that Gordon was currently barricaded, with hostages, inside a residence there.

Falls Police had said Gordon was currently homeless and had ties to the Trenton, N.J. area.

Police were referring all information regarding that aspect of this investigation to the Trenton City Police Department.

The vehicle Gordon was last observed driving is a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV, with Pennsylvania registration KFR 1534, and a 'Namaste' sticker in white lettering on the right side of the rear bumper. See photo of vehicle below

Gordon is described as 6'1", with a thin build, and was last observed wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

He is believed to have an assault rifle which he used to commit these crimes, police said. It is believed that Gordon may have additional weapons.

Gordon is extremely dangerous and anyone who sees him or the vehicle is asked to contact 911 immediately.

Anyone with information regarding Gordon is asked to contact 911 or 215-328-8501.

The Middletown Township Police Department ordered the Oxford Valley Mall —which later reopened —and Sesame Place to close. Police said the Target has also decided to close its store.

Falls Township issued a shelter-in-place order for residents due to police activity amidst reports of several people shot Saturday morning. The order was lifted just before 12:30 p.m. Saturday and residents were allowed to resume normal activities.

Police are asking residents to lock all doors and move to a central and secure location away from windows, stated an alert sent to residents.

Middletown Police said it is monitoring the township's traffic and borders and it does not seem that the shooter has entered our township limits.

Police said that since "this is a fluid situation," they are asking the community to take some precautions.

The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement officials are assisting the Falls Township Police Department in the active police investigation.

"I’ve been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township and directed Pennsylvania State Police to coordinate with law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground," Gov. Josh Shapiro said.

Police ask residents not to travel to Falls Township until further notice and shelter in place if near there.

Falls residents said the shooting was in the Vermillion Hills section of the township, near Pennsbury High School.

Bucks County Community College also closed its Lower Bucks campus for the day.

Residents said helicopters were over Croydon and the West Bristol area searching for the shooter.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was expected to start Saturday morning, was canceled.

"The Bucks County St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled for this morning has been canceled due to police activity. Falls Township has issued a shelter-in-place," State Sen. Steve Santarsiero said. "Please be safe."

Shaun Murphy, who lives in the area, told the Associated Press that he was headed to the parade when he saw that the road had been blocked.

“All the neighbors were outside wondering what was going on and then we got the notice about shelter in place,” Murphy said. “I did see ambulances coming up the street earlier without their sirens on. My neighbors were just outside with me last night, and we were just saying how great of a town and how great of a neighborhood it is.”

Pennsbury School Superintendent Thomas Smith issued a shelter-in-place for students participating in Saturday activities at the high school campus. Police were present at the Pennsbury High School Campus on Hood Boulevard.

Patch has reached out to the Falls Township Police Department and Bucks County Coroner's Office for comment.

Please see Patch for further details and updates when they become available.

(AP Photos by Matt Rourke)