3 accused in Westmoreland County shooting death

WESTMORELAND COUNTY — Three people face homicide charges in connection with the Saturday shooting death of a man who police said tried to rob a Derry Township mobile home.

The three — Danielle Leigh Clawson, 23, of Gamble Road in West Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, and Tiffany A. Blattenberger, 22, and Jesus Santiago, 42, both of Quarry Road, Derry Township — were arraigned Sunday morning before District Judge Douglas Weimer on charges of homicide, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

None is accused of firing the shots that killed Michael Volk, no age or address available. Police said they are charged with homicide because they were co-conspirators in the robbery that led to Volk‘s death.

According to court documents filed by state police, Clawson drove Volk to the Quarry Road trailer where Blattenberger and Santiago live. Volk wanted to rob a man staying there, identified only as “Mitch,” of drugs and money, police said.

Trooper William Bigelow said Volk entered the trailer and “Mitch” shot him twice. As of Sunday morning, no one had been charged with the shooting itself.

Police were summoned to the residence, which is near Torrance State Hospital, about 1 p.m. Saturday.

Yellow police tape surrounded the trailer Sunday morning.

Clawson, Blattenberger and Santiago were lodged in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Jan. 9.

This article was written by Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE.

WPXI