Inset: Haleigh Martinez (LinkedIn). Background: The area of Carey Avenue where Martinez was shot and killed (Google Maps).
A 26-year-old man in Wyoming has been arrested after he allegedly killed his 33-year-old sister, shooting her in the head because he did not “approve of her lifestyle,” then approaching his mother and saying, “Give me a hug, because I’m going to jail.”
Vincent Hackett was taken into custody on Monday and charged with one count of second-degree murder in the slaying of Haleigh Martinez, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the City of Gillette Police Department, officers at about 8:06 p.m. on Jan. 20, responded to a call reporting a shooting at a home in the 600 block of Carey Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they located an adult female — later identified as Martinez — who appeared to be suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency Medical Services transported Martinez to Campbell County Health’s emergency department for treatment. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead a short while after arriving at the facility.
Hackett was still on the scene when police arrived and was immediately arrested. He was formally charged with his sister’s murder on Wednesday.
Court documents obtained by the Cowboy State Daily provided additional information about the circumstances of the alleged shooting.
According to the report, Martinez drove to her mother and Hackett’s home at about 7:26 p.m. where she and Hackett got into an argument. Hackett escorted her to the front door, pushed her outside, and locked the door’s dead bolt.
“This enraged Haleigh, who began beating on the door, demanding entry,” a probable cause affidavit reportedly states. “Vincent was at the door yelling back at Haleigh. The door suddenly swung open, with Haleigh in the doorway.”
That’s when Hackett allegedly shot Martinez in the face. The victim fell to the ground and Hackett allegedly shot her two more times.
In an interview with police, Hackett’s mother said she and her daughter had been cleaning the daughter’s home and drinking earlier in the day when the mother invited Martinez to her home where Hackett was at the time.
The mother explained to police that “the relationship between Vincent [Hackett] and Haleigh [Martinez] was usually confrontational as Haleigh is a known drug user,” police wrote. She added that Hackett, “does not approve of her [Martinez’s] lifestyle or how she raises her children.”
Immediately after the shooting, Hackett reportedly called 911 and told the emergency dispatcher that he had just shot his sister, adding where he’d put the gun and explaining that the weapon was unloaded.
The mother further said that after shooting Martinez, Hackett went up to his mother and asked for a hug.
“Give me a hug, because I am going to jail,” he said, according to police.
