Man Faces Charges in 2 States After Murdering Family Members in Pennsylvania

man faces charges murdering family members death carjacking 2 different state

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Mar 18, 08:25 am

Photo: (Photo : TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images )

A man is facing murder charges in Pennsylvania and carjacking as well as weapons charges in New Jersey, following allegations that he killed three family members, carjacked vehicles in both states and eluded law enforcement for hours as police mobilized in both jurisdictions, authorities revealed on Sunday.

Andre Gordon Jr. Faces Charges in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Andre Gordon Jr., aged 26, stands accused in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, of numerous counts including first- and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and robbery, among others, according to court documents.

In New Jersey, Gordon faces charges of first-degree carjacking and weapons violations, as declared by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin in a Sunday statement.

Platkin condemned the series of violent acts, highlighting the dangers posed by illegal firearms and assault rifles, emphasizing the need for justice for the victims and accountability for Gordon's actions.

Court documents in Pennsylvania do not specify an attorney for Gordon, and contact information associated with him was not operational. New Jersey authorities have yet to identify a defense attorney for Gordon in that state.

The sequence of events unfolded with Gordon allegedly carjacking a vehicle in Trenton around 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, before driving to Levittown in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, where he is accused of murdering his stepmother and sister. He then proceeded to another location in Levittown, where he allegedly killed the mother of his children.

Man Murders 3 Family Members, Gets Arrested by Police

The victims were identified as Karen Gordon, 52, Andre's stepmother; Kera Gordon, 13, his sister; and Taylor Daniel, 25, the mother of his two children. Daniel's mother was also reportedly assaulted with a weapon and hospitalized. Gordon then purportedly carjacked another vehicle in Morrisville before returning to Trenton.

Authorities surrounded a residence for an extended period under the assumption that Gordon was inside, but he managed to escape before the police perimeter was established. He was arrested around 5 p.m., unarmed, as he was observed walking down a nearby street, stated police.

Officials in Pennsylvania stated they are unable to determine a motive for the attacks at this time. Although Gordon had prior encounters with law enforcement, they were described as minor and not indicative of such extreme behavior, according to Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney.

The incidents disrupted public events such as a St. Patrick's Day parade and closed down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park, with several businesses opting to close as well. Authorities in Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas during the ordeal.

Platkin emphasized that the crimes had caused fear and distress in communities across Bucks and Mercer counties.

Gordon is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center in New Jersey and faces three counts of first- and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other charges, according to court documents. As of this writing, a motive has not been established, according to authorities.