Suspects in killings of LaPlace father/daughter expand beyond lone gunman

Published 1:00 pm Friday, June 15, 2018

LAPLACE — Public attention concerning the brutal killings of 29-year-old Cameron Mack and his 4-year-old daughter, Cali, turned from the crime scene at an apartment complex on Joe Parquet Circle in LaPlace to a basketball court less than 30 yards away.

St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators released three videos Thursday afternoon that depict an overhead view of the court near the time of the shootings.

None of the videos, all 16 seconds or less, comes with audio or feature close-ups of those pictured, but they do offer an expanded field of potential suspects.

In Video 1 captured at 8:43 p.m. May 29, a black male is seen running from the park toward the basketball court at a high rate of speed. It appears he is wearing a light colored shirt with dark colored shorts.

In Video 2 captured at 8:44 p.m., two subjects are walking from the basketball court toward the park. One of the subjects is believed to be the same subject running in the first video.

In Video 3 captured at 8:55 p.m., a black male is seen running from the basketball court area to the park.

“Based on time of incident, proximity and what you see on the video, those individuals we believe are involved or have information that could help us,” Sheriff Mike Tregre said Friday morning.

The release of the videos, depicting as many as three “persons of interest” adds scope to a homicide investigation authorities first felt involved a lone gunman.

“Initially from early observation it appeared to be just one person, but as the case evolved, there definitely is a strong indicator that more people were involved in this crime,” Tregre said, adding police phones are starting to ring with tips and social media response has improved.

Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspect or suspects responsible for the shooting deaths of Cameron and Cali Mack.

“I would like someone to have a happy 4th of July with the $20,000,” Tregre said.

Cameron Mack and Cali Mack are the parish’s fifth and sixth homicide victims of 2018. Anyone with information regarding the shootings is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Tips can be submitted at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.

Cameron Mack is seen holding his daughter, Cali Mack.

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 few weeks before the shootings.

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.

The scene was frantic May 29 as Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to a fourplex on Joe Parquet Circle 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, and a family member was trying to take Cali to the hospital. A deputy rushed Cali to the hospital, but, tragically, she was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting.

Cameron was airlifted to University Medical Center New Orleans 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.

“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.”