The man, a 26-year-old homeless man, hijacked a stranger’s car while fleeing authorities to the neighboring state of New Jersey.
He was found after a large police manhunt in a house in the state of New Jersey where he was holding several people hostage. According to local media, the police managed to rescue all the hostages shortly before the arrest and the man was not armed.
Killed his stepmother, sister and the mother of his children
The shootings took place at two different addresses.
According to the district attorney, the victims of the fatal shooting are the man’s 13-year-old sister, 52-year-old stepmother, and a 25-year-old woman who is the mother of his child, reports The Guardian.
The man also allegedly raped another woman with a rifle, who is expected to survive her injuries.
Chief of Police: Unexpected
According to a police chief in the suburbs of East Philadelphia, the man’s actions were unexpected.
“Nothing would indicate that something like this would happen,” said the police chief at a press conference, according to AP.
On Saturday, as the search for the man continued, residents near the scene of the murder were asked to stay indoors. A parade to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day was also forced to cancel due to the incident.