Mandeville Police Captain Vincent Liberto (Captain Vincent N. Liberto Jr Memorial Fund), Mark Spicer (22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office)
As part of a plea agreement backed by the victim's family, a convicted cop killer was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday in Louisiana, but not before he said "I'm sorry for the situation" and added that his family is grieving as well.
On Sept. 20, 2019, Mandeville Police Capt. Vincent Liberto joined a "high-speed pursuit" of an armed and dangerous Mark Spicer, now a 25-year-old from Covington, and was tragically shot to death through a passenger door window, according to 22nd Judicial District Attorney Warren Montgomery.
The police chase began after Mandeville Police Officer Ben Cato conducted what seemed to be a routine traffic stop of a car without a license plate. Spicer now admits that he sped off, opened fire and shot Cato in the head, crashed his car, and fled on foot before using a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun to murder Liberto on Highway 190.
"Captain Vincent Liberto, who had joined the other officers assisting in the vehicle pursuit, attempted to intercept Spicer's escape by placing his unit in Spicer's path," the DA's office said. "As Spicer approached Liberto's unit, he fired two shots through the passenger door window, striking and killing Captain Liberto."
Authorities said that after committing the murder, Spicer went into a McDonald's and then ducked into a nearby church. By the time he was caught, Spicer had ditched his firearm and claimed to have no memory of what took place.
"When later questioned about his actions, Spicer claimed to have blacked out and said he had no recollection of shooting Captain Liberto. Officers canvassed the path of Spicer's flight and located a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun wrapped in a grey t-shirt in a garden of a Beau Chene residence," the DA's office continued. "Laboratory analysis of the firearm later confirmed the presence of Spicer's DNA."
Though Officer Cato survived being shot in the head, Capt. Vincent Liberto died in his police car.
The murder case dragged on for more than four years before reaching a definitive conclusion last Friday, with Spicer's guilty pleas to first-degree murder, attempted first-degree-murder, obstruction by tampering with evidence, and charges for fleeing police and illegally possessing stolen guns.
Local Fox affiliate WVUE reported that just before Spicer was locked up for life without parole — plus 100 years to be served consecutively — he said: "I'm sorry for my situation. My family grieves; their family grieves. I hope they can find peace." Spicer's sister later clarified with Law&Crime that her brother actually said "I'm sorry for the situation."
Capt. Liberto's widow Tracey Liberto told Spicer "you've devastated and destroyed us and left our family broken."
"Look around and see all the people who showed up for my husband today … you killed the best human being any of us will ever know," she said.
The murdered police captain's sister Camilla also addressed her loved one's killer, saying, "Today we close the chapter on you and throw the book away!"
The family posted on the Captain Vincent N. Liberto Jr. Memorial Fund's Facebook page that the last four years have been "devastating" and that "careful consideration" led them to support the plea deal, knowing that Spicer would never get out of prison.
"It has been a devastating four years since the murder of Capt. Liberto, a man who held many roles in our lives – a son, loving husband, dedicated father, cherished grandfather, supportive brother, and an influential community leader. The void left by his absence is immeasurable," the family said. "In the pursuit of justice, our family has faced numerous challenges. After 3.5 years, we experienced the unexpected recusal of Judge Lobello from the case, further prolonging our search for closure. It was during this difficult time that we made the decision to accept a plea deal to ensure that Capt. Liberto's killer would never have the opportunity to walk free."
Liberto's family said they "initially" wanted Spicer to face the death penalty but that other factors, including various delays in the case, made a "more certain" plea deal of life without parole for Spicer the path to take.
"While we initially were in full support of the pursuit of the death penalty through trial, we recognize the current climate of clemency being extended to death row inmates in Louisiana and the shifting perspectives within society," the family said. "In light of these circumstances, we chose the plea deal as a more certain means of ensuring that this monstrous individual remains off the streets forever."
Capt. Vincent Liberto was a husband, a father of seven, a grandfather, a brother, a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm, and a police officer of nearly 30 years, according to his family.
"He was a kind gentle giant who consistently committed himself to be a leader, coach, and mentor to everyone he met; a strong staple within his community, and a man who was so dearly passionate, loyal, and dedicated to his family, his friends, his profession, and all whom he touched," his obituary said.
Editor's note: The headline and story have been updated to reflect the quote from Spicer at sentencing was "I'm sorry for the situation."