Road rage shooter sentenced to 80 years in prison for ‘cold-blooded killing’ in 2022
Anthony Hairston, 29, was sentenced for the Jan. 1, 2022, killing of Holly Vadella in Rostraver Township.
Anthony Hairston, 29, was sentenced for the Jan. 1, 2022, killing of Holly Vadella in Rostraver Township.
By RICH CHOLODOFSKY
TribLive
Holly Vadella Submitted
A Westmoreland County judge said Wednesday the New Year’s Eve road rage killing three years ago of a Rostraver woman was “one of the most callous, senseless, arrogant cold-blooded killings with malice” that he has seen.
Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced Anthony Hairston, 29, of Belle Vernon, to serve up to 80 years in prison for the Jan. 1, 2022, killing of Holly Vadella. Hairston was convicted in November of third-degree murder, weapon offenses and other related charges.
Prosecutors at trial argued Hairston was guilty of first-degree murder for an intentional killing, a crime that carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Feliciani said during Hairston’s sentencing hearing that his actions were incomprehensible.
“This woman just left her elderly mother’s home on New Year’s Eve. She had a sip of wine … and instead of just staying at her mother’s she decided she had to get home. She was driving slowly as a lot of people do on New Year’s Eve and here you come. Upset because she was driving too slowly you fired two shots into the her driver’s side window and killed her. You left and proceeded on your way to last call at the bar. I never witnessed such callousness,” Feliciani said.
Vadella, 59, died from her injuries in the shooting.
At trial, witnesses testified that Hairston fired the fatal shots. The murder weapon was discovered a day later in his girlfriend’s possession, according to police.
Hairston did not testify during his trial during in which defense attorney Brian Aston argued the girlfriend was potentially the killer.
Hairston apologized to Vadella’s family prior to the imposition of his sentence.
“I know words cannot take the pain away. I truly am deeply sorry. I do know what grief feels like, what pain feels like and I am sorry,” Hairston said.
Prosecutors urged the judge view the case differently than the jury’s verdict indicated.
“He snatched away somebody’s life because they were in his way. That’s the actual SENTENCED •A2
Hairston definition of in cold blood. You can make this as right as you can and now the system can meet him squarely as needed,” said Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli.
The judge imposed a maximum 20- to 40-year prison sentence for the murder and a series of consecutive sentences for illegal gun possession, tampering with evidence and drug offenses that in total will require he serve at least 40 to 80 years behind bars.
Hairston before his trial rejected a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to third-degree murder in return for a 25- to 50-year prison sentence.
Her brother and mother testified they continue to grieve Vadella’s death.
“That New Year’s Eve when I think about it and watched her drive down the street where she grew up on I never thought I wouldn’t see her again,” testified Delores Coulson, Vadella’s mother. “I am absolutely heartbroken and until the day I die I will never get over this. Holly was my child and now she is gone.”