TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin wasted no time using the tragic deaths of four people in Pennsylvania on Saturday to launch an attack on the Second Amendment, blaming assault rifles and illegal guns for the tragic incident. That incident saw a man kill three of his family members and then kill another victim during an armed carjacking.
“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. It is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor to do immense damage and leave a trail of tragedies in their wake,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “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.”
Platkin did not reveal what kind of guns were used during the mass shooting incident by the homeless man.
A large multi-state law enforcement operation spanning New Jersey and Pennsylvania concluded on Sunday with the arrest of Andre Gordon Jr., 26, in connection with a violent spree that left three dead and several communities in fear. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, alongside officials from the New Jersey State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Trenton Police Department, announced the arrest following a day-long manhunt.
Authorities allege that Gordon embarked on a deadly path on Saturday, March 16, 2024, starting with a carjacking in Trenton, New Jersey, at approximately 8:40 a.m. He then reportedly traveled to Falls Township, Pennsylvania, where he is accused of committing three murders, including that of a 13-year-old girl, across two locations before carjacking a second vehicle and returning to Trenton. His spree ended when law enforcement apprehended him at a residence on New York Avenue around 5 p.m.
The arrest brought a sigh of relief to communities in Bucks and Mercer counties, shaken by the day’s events. Attorney General Platkin highlighted the incident as a stark example of the devastation that illegal firearms can wreak. He praised the swift and coordinated response of law enforcement agencies, which prevented further violence.
Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, echoed Platkin’s sentiments, acknowledging the professional challenges and dangers faced by law enforcement officers in such high-stakes situations.
The collaborative effort involved approximately 60 officers from the Mercer County Rapid Response Partnership (MCRRP), including local, county, and state agencies, as well as federal partners from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.