Hearing in triple slaying today

NANTICOKE – Two half-brothers charged with killing three people and critically injuring a fourth person in what authorities say was a drug deal gone bad are scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing.

State police at Wyoming believe Shawn James Hamilton, 18, and Sawud Davis, 16, both of East Ridge Street, Nanticoke, and formerly of Philadelphia, were inside an apartment on First Street, Plymouth, on July 7 to make an alleged drug exchange of heroin and marijuana.

At one point, Davis pulled out a .40-caliber pistol and fired multiple rounds, killing Bradley Swartwood, 21, Nicholas Maldonado, 17, Plymouth, and Lisa Abaunza, 15, of Duryea, and injuring 19-year-old Daniel Maldonado.

State police allege in arrest records Davis opened fire when Nicholas Maldonado reached for heroin packets. Davis allegedly told his half brother, Hamilton, that he couldn't leave any witnesses and shot Swartwood, Danny Maldonado and Abaunza, according to arrest records.

After the shooting, Hamilton and Davis visited their cousin, Kenyatta Hugheston, 22, who at the time was hospitalized at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for gunshot injuries Hugheston suffered on Jay Street, Wilkes-Barre, on July 6. Hugheston died Oct. 6. His death has been ruled a homicide.

Hamilton and Davis also went shopping at the Wyoming Valley Mall and bought new clothes and sneakers, state police allege.

Bloody sneakers and a loaded .40-caliber handgun were recovered from their Nanticoke apartment, as well as receipts for the clothes and sneakers bought in the mall, according to search warrant receipts.