The Rowe Auto Group will be holding a memorial golf tournament in September to benefit the children of a couple that was tragically shot and killed in Westbrook last June.

In the evening of Monday, June 19, 2023, 41-year-old Michael Hayter and 37-year-old Brittany Cockrell, a couple that had relocated to Maine from Texas just months prior, were brutally murdered in their car near the intersection of Main Street and Bridge Street in Westbrook, while their two young children were in the backseat, according to the Maine State Police.

Police said the suspected shooter, 24-year-old Marcel Lagrange, Jr., was tackled and disarmed by bystanders after fleeing the scene of the shooting.

Lagrange, who has a lengthy criminal history in Maine dating back to 2018, was indicted in August 2023 by a Cumberland County grand jury on two counts of intentional or knowing murder, and one count each of aggravated attempted murder, aggravated assault, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.

Lagrange has pleaded not guilty to the charges by reason of insanity.

The Rowe Auto Group, Michael Hayter’s former employer, will hold the memorial golf tournament on Tuesday, September 24, at the Willowdale golf course in Scarborough.

“We are coming together to honor the memory of our beloved coworker and friends Michael Hayter & Brittney Cockrell, who were taken from us and their family far too soon. As we cherish their memory, we also rally around their children to ensure they have the support they need,” Rowe Auto Group stated on their event page.

“This event is more than just a round of golf; it’s a chance for our community to come together, celebrate lives well-lived, and make a difference for those left behind,” they continued. “All proceeds from the event will go directly to support their children, providing them with resources and opportunities they deserve.”

Registration for the event can be found here, and donations can be made here.