A suspected gunman has barricaded himself in a home with hostages after allegedly shooting dead three people in suburban Philadelphia.

Police were in a stand-off outside the suspect’s house in New Jersey, hours after the shootings in a small town.

Residents were urged to stay inside and a St Patrick’s Day parade was cancelled, with a shelter-in-place order lifted only when the suspect was located.

The shootings happened in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, about 28 miles from Philadelphia.

Falls Township police said in a statement that, according to a preliminary investigation, the suspect is believed to be 26-year-old Andre Gordon.

The force said Gordon shot and killed two people at an address in Levittown before killing another person as he fled the scene.

He then went on to carry out a carjacking at gunpoint in a car park, police said. The vehicle’s driver did not suffer any injuries.

Image:
Andre Gordon allegedly committed a carjacking at gunpoint after the shooting, stealing this car. Pic: Township of Falls Police Department

Police said it is thought Gordon knew all of the victims, except the victim of the carjacking.

People were told to stay at home and were warned not to travel to Falls Township as police searched for the suspect.

Officers said Gordon was thought to have an assault rifle, which he used in the shootings as well as other weapons.

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A shopping mall has been told to close until further notice, while the area’s Target store has chosen to shut as well.

Sesame Place, a children’s theme park, has also been forced to shut.

Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents the wider Bucks County area in the House of Representatives, said in social media posts that there had been “a carjacking and a shooting in two sections of Falls Township”.

He said he was “in touch with law enforcement officials as they pursue the suspect”.