Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully obtained a life sentence without parole for Brandon Harris, who was convicted of the murder of 24-year-old Valerie Hackett in Longview, Texas in 2020. Harris’ actions were described as a revenge shooting against individuals associated with an apartment complex where he had previous legal issues. According to reports, Harris shot and killed Hackett during the incident, which also involved an attempted attack on the apartment manager who managed to escape. Harris then proceeded to target others on the premises, but fortunately, no one else was harmed.
Following the heinous act, law enforcement officers swiftly apprehended Harris, who later confessed to the crime. Harris admitted that he had intentionally targeted Hackett, stating that he had “shot a woman multiple times at point-blank range” and expressing remorse for not being able to harm others he held responsible for his prior arrest. Despite his lack of cooperation during the trial, Harris was found guilty of capital murder by the jurors after a brief deliberation period. As a result, he has received a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
The legal proceedings in this case were overseen by the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Prosecutions Division, with Assistant Attorneys General Anna Lee McNelis and Wes Mau representing the State. This involvement was due to a conflict of interest within the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office.
This conviction marks a significant achievement for Attorney General Ken Paxton and his team in ensuring justice for the victim and holding the perpetrator accountable for his actions.
