Life In Prison For Bank Robber Who Shot, Killed Tinley Park Man

INDIANA — An Indiana man who shot and killed a Tinley Park man as he guarded a bank during a robbery will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Hailey Gist-Holden, 28, was sentenced Friday to two consecutive life sentences, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Indiana. The sentence also includes 2 years of supervised release to follow the life terms.

A federal jury found Gist-Holden guilty of armed robbery and using, carrying, brandishing a firearm in the June 2021 robbery at First Midwest Bank in Gary, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The jury determined that as part of the robbery and the discharging of the firearm, Gist-Holden murdered a bank security guard later identified as Richard Castellana, 55, of Tinley Park. Castellana was a former Cook County Sheriff's Deputy, and he retired in 2019. He served the Cook County Sheriff's Department for 35 years.

Prior to sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlan Padula said Gist-Holden should be given a life sentence because "there is no place in a just society for this kind of senseless murder," reported The Times Of Northwest Indiana.

Details revealed in a memo from Padula as reported by The Times said that Gist-Holden "without warning or hesitation, ... shot Castellana in the head, killing him. The surveillance video shows that Castellana did not see his murderer before he was killed."

Castellana was reportedly ambushed as he guarded the exterior of the First Midwest Bank during an attempted robbery, Patch previously reported. Two suspects seen on bank surveillance cameras were carrying guns before ambushing Castellana. The thieves made off with just under $10,000 in the robbery.

Gist-Holden is one of four charged in connection with the bank robbery. Also charged were 34-year-old Kenyon Hawkins of Georgia, 27-year-old Briana White, of Chicago, and James A. King, 24, of Florida.

Gist-Holden and King reportedly knew each other through their semi-pro Illini Panthers MidStates Football League, of which Gist-Holden was reported as the owner. The pair reportedly robbed the bank to cover expenses incurred by the league, which included charges at more than one hotel, as previously reported by Patch.

King and Kenyon Hawkins pled guilty to armed bank robbery and murder resulting from the discharge of a firearm during the robbery. Both are awaiting sentencing. Another alleged participant in this bank robbery is set to be tried separately.

"First, I want to express by sincerest condolences to the victims in this case," said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson in court. "I fully recognize that Gist-Holden’s prosecution does not diminish the anxiety you face or the sorrow that you are—and will continue—to experience because of this senseless act of violence.

"Second, as this case proves, my office, with the support and assistance of federal, state and local enforcement agencies, will prosecute vigorously persons who commit violent crimes that destroy the peace of Northern District of Indiana residents and businesses."

FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton also spoke.

"While this senseless act of violence will have a lifelong impact on the victims, I hope that knowing this defendant has been held accountable for his crimes helps their healing process," he said.