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Penn Hills man charged in Derry killing surrenders
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A Penn Hills man charged with criminal homicide and kidnapping has surrendered and is in custody, police said today.
Investigators said Ronell Moses, 20, opened fire and killed a man who, along with three friends, tried to rob him in Derry last week.
He is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison.
In addition to the homicide and kidnapping counts, Mr. Moses faces firearms and terroristic threats charges stemming from the Dec. 29 confrontation that left Michael Volk, 24, dead of gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen.
Investigators wrote in a criminal complaint that Jesus Santiago, 42, received a call on Dec. 28 from a man whose name he did not know telling him that a man named "Mitch" would be staying at his place and selling drugs.
Troopers wrote in the complaint that Mr. Volk, Mr. Santiago and their girlfriends -- Danielle Clawson, 23, and Tiffany Blattenberger, 22 -- hatched a plan to rob "Mitch."
Ms. Clawson drove Mr. Volk to a trailer on Stone Quarry Road, according to the complaint. Mr. Volk went inside.
Ms. Blattenberger hopped in the car and the women returned 20 minutes later, when Mr. Santiago told them that "Mitch" had shot Mr. Volk, police said.
Troopers wrote that "Mitch" showed a silver handgun and threatened to "shoot everyone in the residence if they wouldn't calm down." They said he called someone in the Indiana, Pa., area and asked them to come pick him up.
Mr. Santiago, Ms. Blattenberger and Ms. Clawson were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit criminal homicide and conspiracy to commit robbery.
All three are being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail.
First Published January 4, 2013 1:16 pm
