A man from Maine, convicted of murdering a couple in the presence of their two children, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Marcel Lagrange Jr., aged 26, attended his sentencing hearing via video link on Thursday, where the judge imposed a life sentence for the fatal shootings of Michael Hayter, 41, and Brittney Cockrell, 37. Additionally, Lagrange received a 50-year sentence for attempting to murder the couple’s 11-year-old son, Mason.

On the night of June 19, 2023, Mason and his 7-year-old sister, Maddie, were with their parents when prosecutors stated that Lagrange was on a violent spree following a romantic rejection.

As reported by local CBS station WGME, prosecutor Jennifer Ackerman revealed in court that after being turned down by a woman, Lagrange ominously declared that “multiple people would die because of what she was doing.” He subsequently ambushed Hayter and Cockrell, opening fire on them while they sat in their car outside a Portland Pie pizza restaurant.

According to an affidavit accessed by Law&Crime, Mason recounted to police that Lagrange emerged “out of nowhere” and shot his father in the neck. He added that his mother, Cockrell, attempted to flee but was shot by Lagrange. Maddie described to police how her mother was “running, screaming, and pointing” before being fatally shot. Authorities discovered Cockrell in the parking lot, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Mason mentioned that Lagrange also attempted to shoot him, but he managed to dodge the bullets by ducking down.

Jeff McKinney, Cockrell’s father and the children’s grandfather, read a statement by Mason in court at the sentencing, which said, “There was just enough time so Maddie and I could duck.”

A third child, Cadence Cockrell, who was not in the car on the night of the shooting, said, “He killed my parents. And I hope he gets the two life sentences he deserves. No parole for taking my parents, for my siblings having to watch.”

Lagrange expressed remorse for the double murder and attempted murder, telling the court, “I was not in my right mind that day. I had stopped taking my medication and was drinking and smoking weed, and not getting the mental health that I needed.”

Lagrange was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Cockrell and Hayter and 50 years for the attempted murder of their son.