Pittsburgh-area man convicted of killing slow driver in New Year’s Eve road rage shooting

GREENSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) – A jury has found a Westmoreland County man guilty of shooting and killing a woman after he became angry with her for driving too slowly on New Year’s Eve, prosecutors announced Friday .

A jury convicted 29-year-old Anthony Hairston of third-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and drug and firearms offenses in the death of 59-year-old Holly Vadella in 2022.

According to authorities, Vadella was on her way home from a meeting with her mother when Hairston walked up behind her on Rostraver Road. Prosecutors said Hairston was upset because Vadella was driving too slowly and he was trying to get to a bar in Rostraver before it closed.

Witnesses said Hairston fired two shots as he passed Vadella, killing her. Police said she was later found dead in her car.

The criminal complaint said Hairston drove away after the shooting and was at the bar a few minutes later.

Before returning its guilty verdict Thursday, the jury heard three days of testimony and deliberated for more than two hours.

“From the beginning, this incident was an act of senseless and unprovoked violence. I hope this verdict brings some peace to Holly Vadella’s family. “I thank the jury for their time and consideration in this case,” Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said in a news release.

After Vadella’s death, the California University of Pennsylvania released a statement saying Vadella had been a typist for ten years and was a valued member of the school family.

Hairston will be sentenced in three months.