1West Hempfield man waives hearing in double‑fatal shooting case

West Hempfield Township, PA – A man accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife and sister-in-law and seriously wounding his son during an argument inside his home has waived his preliminary hearing, allowing the case to move to county court.

Police say the shooting occurred on the evening of Oct. 5 at a residence in the 2100 block of Oak Hollow Drive, where 64‑year‑old Santiago Payano‑Sanchez allegedly opened fire during a dispute that had unfolded over the course of the weekend. According to investigators, he retrieved a handgun from his waistband around 5 p.m. and shot his 33‑year‑old son in the stomach before shooting two other family members.

The victims were identified as 59‑year‑old Ana Gutierrez‑Cedano and 74‑y

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