The suspect in a homicide in Ruston Thursday night was caught after a wild chase across north Louisiana and into Texas, according to police.
Virgil Mack, Jr., 31, of Dubach, was identified as the suspect in a shooting at a convenience store located at the USA Travel Center convenience store on 2500 West Alabama Avenue in Ruston through video surveillance. Mack’s vehicle was tracked through recently implemented license plate reader technology and spotted by a Louisiana state trooper on Interstate 20 early Friday morning.
A chase ensued into Texas on I-20 and Mack crashed near Marshall, Texas, and was taken into custody.
Ruston Police responded to the scene of the shooting about 11:50 p.m. and found the deceased victim, Ontario Spivey, 35, of Ruston. The scene was immediately secured, and investigators began processing evidence.
Through video surveillance, investigators identified both the suspect and his vehicle. A City of Grambling Police officer at the scene was able to help identify the suspect. An alert was quickly issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies.
Using recently implemented license plate reader technology; officers were able to determine Mack’s escape route. The suspect vehicle was detected traveling westbound on Interstate 20, and Louisiana State Police Troops F and G were notified. A state trooper with Troop G attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled, and a pursuit was initiated.
The chase continued across the state line and the vehicle crashed in Marshall, Texas. Following the crash, Mack was taken into custody along with two other occupants, Kourtney Douglass, 37, of Ruston and Kobe Mack, 20, of Dubach.
Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson praised the rapid and coordinated response that led to Mack’s capture.
“This is the kind of outcome the public should expect when agencies are able to work together,” Watson said in a statement early Friday morning. “I would like to thank all the agencies that were involved in the swift apprehension of Virgil Mack, Jr. Those include the Grambling Police Department, Louisiana Tech University Police Department, Louisiana State Police Troops F and G, Shreveport Police Department, Marshall [Texas] Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.”
Mack was booked on murder charges at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office jail in Marshall where he continues to be held pending extradition proceedings to return him to Louisiana.
Ruston Police said the investigation continues, and further details will be released as they become available.
