A man is facing murder charges in Pennsylvania and carjacking and weapons charges in New Jersey after a series of violent acts that left three family members dead and communities on edge in two states. The suspect, identified as a 26-year-old man, is charged with multiple counts of murder, aggravated assault, robbery, carjacking, and weapons offenses.
The string of violent incidents began when the suspect carjacked a vehicle in Trenton, New Jersey, before driving to Levittown in Falls Township, Pennsylvania. There, he allegedly killed his stepmother and sister at one location and then proceeded to another location in Levittown where he killed the mother of his two children.
The victims have been identified as the suspect's 52-year-old stepmother, his 13-year-old sister, and the 25-year-old mother of his children. The suspect is also accused of assaulting the mother of his children with an assault weapon, resulting in her hospitalization.
After the killings, the suspect carjacked a second vehicle in Morrisville and returned to Trenton. Law enforcement authorities surrounded a home in Trenton where they believed the suspect was hiding, but he managed to evade capture and was later arrested while walking down a street a few blocks away.
Officials have not yet determined a motive for the attacks. The suspect had a history of minor brushes with the law, but nothing that would have indicated such violent actions. The mayhem caused disruptions in the community, leading to the cancellation of a St. Patrick’s Day parade, closure of businesses, and a shelter-in-place order in some areas.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin condemned the violent acts, emphasizing the need to hold the suspect accountable for his actions. The suspect is currently being held at the Mercer County Correction Center and is expected to be extradited to Pennsylvania to face the charges against him.
