On January 20, 2025, at approximately 8:06 p.m., Gillette Police responded to reports of gunfire at a residence in the 600 block of Carey Avenue in Gillette, Wyoming. Officers located an adult female with multiple gunshot wounds; Emergency Medical Services transported her to Campbell County Health, where she was pronounced dead at 8:32 p.m. The Campbell County Coroner identified the victim as Haleigh Marie Myers Martinez, a Hispanic female, age 33, of Gillette.
Police detained a suspect at the scene and opened a homicide investigation. Two days later, authorities named the suspect as Vincent Hackett, 26, the victim's half-brother, who was charged with one count of felony second-degree murder in the death of the victim, Haleigh Marie Meyers Martinez, age 33.
An evidentiary affidavit and contemporaneous reporting state he called 911 and admitted to shooting his half-sister; he also told his mother, “Give me a hug, because I am going to jail,” before officers arrived. A judge later set a cash-only bond; prosecutors had requested $1 million cash-only, and reporting indicates the bond was set at $750,000 cash-only.
According to court documents, the incident occurred at the mother's home; the victim,Haleigh Marie Meyers Martinez, was shot three times, including once in the face. Hackett waived his preliminary hearing, and the case was bound over to Campbell County District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. A jury trial initially set for June 30, 2025, was later rescheduled to early September to allow additional evidentiary proceedings.
As the case progressed, the defense sought dismissal on self-defense grounds, while prosecutors continued to pursue the second-degree murder charge in the killing of the victim, Haleigh marie Meyers Martinez.
Community members held a June 2025 courthouse vigil and protest supporting the victim, Haleigh Marie Meyers Martinez, as the court conducted further hearings on the self-defense claim and maintain a September trial setting unless the charges are dismissed.
