A tragic incident in Gillette, Wyoming, has left a family shattered and a community in shock. A 26-year-old man, Vincent Hackett, was arrested on January 20 after allegedly shooting and killing his 33-year-old sister, Haleigh Martinez. Authorities say Hackett admitted to the crime, telling his mother afterward, “Give me a hug, because I’m going to jail.”
The shooting happened around 8:06 p.m. at a home on the 600 block of Carey Avenue. According to the Gillette Police Department, officers arrived to find Martinez with multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to Campbell County Health’s emergency department, but sadly, doctors couldn’t save her, and she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
Hackett didn’t flee the scene. Instead, he stayed at the house and was arrested when officers got there. He now faces a charge of second-degree murder.
Details about what led to the tragic incident have come to light through court documents. According to the reports, Martinez had gone to her mother’s home, where Hackett also lived, at around 7:26 p.m. That’s when a heated argument broke out between the siblings. Hackett reportedly pushed Martinez out the front door and locked it, which angered her. Martinez began pounding on the door, demanding to be let back in.
Witnesses say Hackett yelled back at her through the door. Then, the door suddenly opened, and Martinez stood in the doorway. In that moment, Hackett allegedly shot her in the face. She collapsed, and Hackett is accused of firing two more shots at her while she lay on the ground.
In a police interview, Hackett’s mother shared that she and Martinez had been drinking earlier that day while cleaning Martinez’s home. The mother later invited her daughter over, even though she knew the relationship between the siblings was often tense. According to her, Hackett strongly disapproved of his sister’s lifestyle, describing her as a drug user and criticizing how she raised her children.
After the shooting, Hackett reportedly called 911 himself. He calmly explained to the dispatcher that he had shot his sister, told them where to find the gun, and said the weapon was unloaded. Following this, he approached his mother, hugged her, and said, “Give me a hug, because I’m going to jail.”
Hackett is being held on a cash-only bond of $750,000 and is set to appear in court again for a preliminary hearing on January 30. The case has left many in Gillette reeling, raising questions about how family disputes can escalate so tragically.
