A man has pleaded guilty to murder after shooting a couple in front of their children two years ago.

Marcel LaGrange, 26, appeared in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday via Zoom and pleaded guilty to a six-count indictment. He was scheduled for trial next week after a judge recently denied his attorneys’ request for more time because of concerns about LaGrange’s capacity to help with his own defense.

Police said LaGrange shot Brittany Cockrell and Michael Hayter the evening of June 19, 2023, after confronting them and their young children in downtown Westbrook. LaGrange didn’t know the family.

A prosecutor said Monday that LaGrange had threatened violence against a friend on Facebook earlier that evening in 2023. The person later reported the comments to Portland police.

LaGrange also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder, two weapons-related charges and one count of aggravated assault. Police said LaGrange attacked a 75-year-old man after shooting Hayter and Cockrell, before several bystanders tackled and disarmed him.

By pleading guilty, LaGrange is withdrawing an insanity plea that he had previously entered, in which he argued he shouldn’t be held responsible for the incident because he couldn’t understand his actions at the time of the shooting.

He could face life in prison, Superior Court Justice Deborah Cashman said. Cashman will sentence LaGrange later this year.

LaGrange appeared in court from the Intensive Mental Health Unit at Maine State Prison, sitting alongside his attorney Alec Youngblood-Avery. As Cashman spoke at length about the various rights LaGrange was giving up, LaGrange had to mute his microphone a few times to ask Youngblood-Avery for clarification.

His other attorney, Tina Nadeau, watched from the courtroom in Portland.

Nadeau objected when Cashman asked LaGrange why he was pleading guilty, saying that could breach private conversations LaGrange had with his counsel.

“Is this a decision that you thought about for a while, before making it?” Cashman asked.

“It took me a while,” LaGrange said. “I’ve had enough time.”

“Are you pleading guilty to these crimes because you are guilty of them?” Cashman asked.

LaGrange paused to look at his attorney. His lawyers said LaGrange was pleading because he believes it’s likely the state has the evidence to prove him guilty at trial.

“Marcel reached the difficult decision to plead guilty after a lot of heavy thinking — ultimately making the right decision for himself,” Nadeau said after court. “We look forward to presenting the court a complete picture of the person Marcel is at his sentencing hearing later this fall.”

Cockrell’s father, Jeff McKinney, was in court on Monday, and said he will return for LaGrange’s sentencing. He said he hopes LaGrange receives a life sentence.

The family is capable of forgiveness, McKinney said, “but you have to look at the level of crime committed. And nothing less than that will suffice.”

Hayter and Cockrell had moved from Texas to Westbrook less than a year before they were shot, family told the Press Herald in 2023. Hayter had just gotten a job at a car dealership.

Both of the children are back in Texas and healing, McKinney said. His granddaughter has started cheerleading and his grandson is in band.

“Some days are harder than others,” McKinney said after court. “We’re doing what we can to carry the weight.”