LAPLACE — Police are making headway in the investigation of the father and daughter shot and killed during a Tuesday night LaPlace ambush, according to Sheriff Mike Tregre.

The victims were identified as 29-year-old Cameron Mack and 4-year-old Cali Mack, each shot while returning home to their apartment in the 100 block of Joe Parquet Circle in LaPlace.

Cameron Mack and Cali Mack are the parish’s fifth and sixth homicide victims of 2018.

“We’re on the right track,” Tregre said. “We’re making progress. The community has been very responsive. Some people are telling us what they saw and heard, even if they didn’t think it was valuable, but some of it has turned out to be very good information. Social media has been a tremendous assistance. I just need a little more help.”

At this point, police believe there was a single gunman but are not releasing suspect information, other than saying they believe it was a black man.

The contents of community tips had not been publically shared as of press time on Friday.

A $5,000 Crimestoppers reward is available for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspect or suspects responsible for the shooting deaths of Cameron Mack and Cali Mack.

Anyone with information regarding the shootings is encouraged to call the St. John Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Citizens can also submit tips at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.

According to police, Cameron lived in LaPlace with his wife Secret, Cali and another daughter, Chase; the family only moving back to St. John Parish in the past few weeks.

Longtime friend Maurice Anthony Hall said he and Cameron, originally from New Orleans, graduated from Turner Job Corps Center in Albany, Ga. before relocating to LaPlace.

Hall said Cameron worked for a local plant and loved his children fiercely.

“Cameron had some bumps like we all have in our lives, and I knew he overcame those obstacles,” Hall said. “We always hung out and talked about our next steps in life, what we wanted and just being us. I really can’t understand the motive behind this. I really hope they catch the person who did this to someone I considered a brother.”

St. John Parish Councilman Kurt Becnel said no one is ever prepared to hear tragic news of lives lost too soon.

“It pulls at my heart strings to hear of young individuals’ lives taken by such a violent act,” Becnel said. “I pray we will find a way to curtail the violence happening not only in this community, but in our country. I will keep this family in my thoughts and prayers.”

The scene was frantic Tuesday night as Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to a fourplex on Joe Parquet Circle in LaPlace following reports of shots fired and multiple victims.

Police discovered a horrific shooting aftermath as Cameron and Cali were clinging to life.

Cameron was initially conscious and talking, Sheriff Mike Tregre said, adding a family member was trying to take Cali to the hospital.

A deputy rushed Cali to the hospital, but, tragically, she was pronounced dead at a LaPlace hospital shortly after the 8:56 p.m. shooting.

Cameron was airlifted to University Medical Center New Orleans Tuesday night, but authorities said he died at approximately 10:30 p.m.

According to Tregre, Cameron was returning to his home on the second floor of a two-story, fourplex with families occupying the other units.

Police believe Cameron was involved in a weekend confrontation last week and are investigating if that is tied to Tuesday’s shooting.

“The gunman came out of the darkness as the victim and his daughter were walking up the stairs — the father carrying the child in one hand and groceries in the other hand,” Tregre said. “The gunman just came up behind him and opened fire. There was no warning.”

The following gofundme page has been set up to cover funeral expenses for Cameron and Cali: gofundme.com/funeral-expense-for-cali-ampcameron