In Louisiana, a convicted cop killer was sentenced to life in prison without parole as part of a plea agreement supported by the victim's family. This decision came after the killer expressed sorrow for the situation and noted that his own family is grieving too.
On September 20, 2019, Mandeville Police Capt. Vincent Liberto tragically lost his life during a high-speed pursuit of a dangerous individual, Mark Spicer, aged 25, from Covington.
The pursuit began when Mandeville Police Officer Ben Cato conducted what seemed like a routine traffic stop for a car without a license plate. Spicer, however, sped off, opened fire, shot Cato in the head, crashed his car, and fled on foot before using a handgun to kill Liberto on Highway 190.
Spicer fired two fatal shots through the passenger door window as he approached Liberto's police vehicle. After committing the murder, Spicer sought refuge in a McDonald's and later in a nearby church. When he was eventually apprehended, he claimed to have no memory of the events.
Subsequent investigations revealed that a handgun wrapped in a t-shirt, containing Spicer's DNA, was found near the path of his escape. Although Officer Cato survived the gunshot to the head, Captain Vincent Liberto lost his life in the line of duty.
The murder case extended for more than four years before reaching a resolution. Spicer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, evidence tampering, fleeing from police, and illegal possession of stolen firearms.
Just before being sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus an additional 100 years, Spicer expressed regret, saying, "I'm sorry for my situation. My family grieves; their family grieves. I hope they can find peace."
Tracey Liberto, Captain Liberto's widow, conveyed the pain inflicted on their family, stating, "You've devastated and destroyed us and left our family broken."
Camilla, the murdered captain's sister, addressed Spicer with a final note, saying, "Today we close the chapter on you and throw the book away."
The family emphasized that the last four years have been devastating, and they supported the plea deal to ensure that Spicer would never be released from prison. Initially seeking the death penalty, they opted for a plea deal given the case's various delays and the changing climate around the death penalty in Louisiana.
Captain Vincent Liberto was a remarkable individual—a husband, father of seven, grandfather, brother, a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm, and a police officer with nearly 30 years of service. His obituary described him as a kind, gentle giant, a leader, coach, mentor, and a dedicated family man, whose absence left an immeasurable void in their lives.
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