Brittney Cockrell, a 37-year-old White female, was a cherished daughter, sister, and mother. She and her life partner, Michael Hayter, 41, had recently moved their family from the Houston, Texas area to Westbrook, Maine, just six months before their lives were taken. Described by family as a loving couple who would have given a stranger the shirt off their back, they were embracing a new chapter with their two young children.
That new beginning came to a violent end on the evening of
June 19, 2023. Around 8:30 p.m., Brittney and Michael were in a parking lot near Main and Bridge streets when a man appeared and opened fire on them. The attack was sudden and unprovoked. Michael was shot and killed inside their vehicle, while Brittney was shot near the car. The couple’s 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were in the backseat and witnessed the horrific murders of their parents. Authorities later stated there was no known connection between the family and their attacker, calling it a random act of violence.
After the shooting, the gunman fled down Main Street, where he assaulted a 75-year-old man. His escape was cut short when several bystanders bravely intervened, tackling and disarming him until police arrived. Officers arrested Marcel LaGrange Jr., 24, of South Portland, at the scene. He had a documented history of violent behavior and mental health issues.
A grand jury later indicted LaGrange on six counts, including two counts of murder for the deaths of Brittney and Michael, and one count of aggravated attempted murder for allegedly shooting at their 11-year-old son. In August 2023, LaGrange pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The case reached its conclusion over two years later. In September 2025, LaGrange changed his plea to guilty on all charges. At his sentencing hearing in December 2025, he apologized to the victims' families, stating he had not been taking his medication at the time of the murders. The judge sentenced Marcel LaGrange Jr. to life in prison for the murders, plus an additional 50 years for the attempted murder of the child. The couple’s two children, who were physically unharmed in the attack, had returned to Texas to be raised by their grandparents.
