24-year-old Salina man had informed police he was concerned about his safety

Murder victim planned to testify

By ERIN MATHEWS

Salina Journal

A 24-year-old Salina man gunned down in his apartment early Saturday told police he was concerned about his safety because he planned to testify against two men accused of shooting at him previously.

"There are a number of possibilities, and we are focusing our effort in the investigation to narrow those down," Salina Deputy Police Chief Carson Mansfield said of the investigation into the murder of Alfred W. "Al" Mack Jr., 24, 1012 Johnstown, Apt. C.

The possibility that Mack was killed to prevent him from testifying is one of the possibilities police are looking at, Mansfield said.

"I don't recall that (a witness being murdered) happening in the past, and we don't know that it's happened now," Mansfield said.

No arrests have been made in connection with Mack's murder, which police believe occurred between 3 and 5 a.m. Mansfield would not say what type of gun Mack was shot with, or how many times or where he was shot, although people near the crime scene have reported hearing one shot fired.

Mack was subpoenaed as a witness to appear at a preliminary hearing and testify against Antwon M. Pierce, 29, 1005 N. 10th; Rickey L. Hopkins. 24, 250 N. Phillips; and Steven D. Brown, 34, 227 N. Penn.

Pierce and Hopkins, accused in the previous shooting, were in custody in Saline County Jail when Mack was shot and killed, according to jail records. Brown, accused of aiding a felon, had been released the day he was arrested.

The preliminary hearing at which Mack would have testified is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 24 in Saline County District Court.

Police arrested Pierce and Hopkins May 21 on charges of attempted second-degree murder because they were accused of shooting three times at Mack and another man as they sat in a car in the 600 block of South Front Street after a disagreement over a stolen car stereo. Brown, who was in the car with Pierce and Hopkins when they were stopped, was charged with aiding a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brown Mackie student

According to obituary information, Mack was born in Tampa, Fla. He attended and played football at Dodge City Community College before moving to Salina in August 2006. He had just recently moved into the Johnstown apartment building.

Mack was currently a student at Brown Mackie College, where he hoped to receive the credentials to become a probation officer, said co-worker Marshall Matthews. Matthews worked with Mack at Unlimited Options of Salina, where he was a caretaker for disabled residents in a home setting.

Matthews said Mack had worked for Unlimited Options for two years and was training Matthews, who had started working with the organization a month ago.

"He never had nothing negative to talk about, period," Matthews said. "He was one of the most caring workers at this company. He treated people here at this job like they were his brothers at home. He took them places every single day."

Matthews said Mack recently got baptized and joined First Southern Baptist Church.

"He was trying to do different things with his life," he said.

Mack was the father of three young children.

Mack and the three men arrested in May had been at a house on South Front Street before the shooting incident, according to police. The three men accused in the shooting left together, and a short time later Mack and the other victim also left the location after they discovered a stereo had been stolen from their car.

They called Pierce, Hopkins and Brown, who agreed to meet them back at the house, according to police reports on that incident. When Mack and his friend returned, three shots from a medium-caliber handgun were fired at their vehicle from another car, police reported.

Door latch was broken

Police discovered Mack's body in his apartment at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday while at the apartment building investigating another complaint. An officer saw that the door to his apartment was damaged, and when he knocked on the door to do a welfare check it opened because the latch was broken, Mansfield said.

Mack's body was lying near the door, Mansfield said. He said authorities believe he had been killed that morning, not long before he was found.

Police officers made two trips to the building that morning. At 1:41 a.m., they responded to a loud party complaint in an apartment on a different floor at the other end of the building. Two men were arrested for underage drinking.

At 5:21 a.m., they returned to the same apartment where Benjamin J. Friedman reported that a Samsung flatscreen television, Playstation 3, shelving and assorted PS3 games and DVDs had been stolen for a total loss of $2,300 sometime between 2:35 and 5:21 a.m. that day.

Mansfield said there was no sign of forced entry on that apartment, although while police were investigating that complaint other residents reported their window screens had been pried on. While officers investigated those complaints, which turned out to be old damage, Mansfield said they saw that the door to Mack's apartment had been forced open.

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Lil Sister says....
Mack- He was like my big bro. He was probably the most lovin guy you will ever meet. He would do anything for anyone he cared about and an excellent father. I hope whoever did this is caught and spends the rest of their life in prison, because he didn't deserve this. He will be missed and never forgotten. Luv you Mack! R.I.P.
6/23/2009

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says....
Al, was a great guy I meet him and his wife at my sons house.we all worked at arrowhead west.he was part of my family and always in our hearts.
6/18/2009

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says....
This is such a tragedy, but it is so comforting knowing that he had accepted Christ a his personal savior, joined a church and was baptized. Al was really tryin to turn his life around, and for the sake of the family, I hope justice is brought to the person that is responsible.
6/18/2009

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D says....
I was very shocked to hear the news. I was just a 14 yr old kid when i met mack at the sherdain playin basketball. He was a giant but a very loving and gentle one at that. I was the only girl playin ball with a bunch of guys, but yet always so nice to me. He was a great father and was so proud to be one. Rest in peace Mac you will always be loved and missed! My prayers are with his family and friends.
6/17/2009

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Salina force GET HELP!! says....
Salina Force you REALLY need to get a clairvoyant. ***The ability of the seer or clairvoyant (a person endowed with the gift of clairvoyance) are basically able to see and perceive things that happened, are happening or about to happen in people's lives.**** Criminals are getting away with all kinds of murders and really Salina Police force is not getting anywhere solving this crimes so what do the criminals keep doing?? The same thing over and over and laugh because they know that they can and will get away with it!! You need some help! as ridiculous as it may sound but it's true trust and have faith I'll let you barrow my 4 year old because she can see scenes like this but then again she's 4!!! you need a professional GET HELP and put those nasty criminals behind bars!!
6/16/2009

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sad coworker says....
Big AL was the sweetest and most cairing guy any one could hope to meet. He always knew how to make people laugh and happy. He will always be missed and never forgotten. He was the best co-worker ever and a good friend. I hope people will always be happy when they think of him because that is what he would want. We all love and miss him and hope that the people or person that did this rotts for ever.
6/16/2009

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College Mom and Friends says....
Many home cooked meals he spent with my family and his friends. Just hanging out at my house with the kids having fun. He was a wonderful man and he will be missed. Who ever did this to him will meet their maker. God Bless his family. From Dodge City Friends.
6/16/2009

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Dad says....
"Big Al" was one of the people that take care of my son at Unlimited Options. My son loved him. I respected him. I hope god has saved a special place in hell for his killers soal to rot.
6/16/2009

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Former HS Friend says....
I went to school with Mack back in high school. He was such a great guy and was always smiling. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone and you knew he was always there for you. What upsets me the most and boggles my mind is how this could happen to someone like him. Out of every at our high school...he was the very last person I thought something like this would happen to. He was too good of a father and person. I hope they find who ever did this...bc it would be a shame for this to be swept under the rug and for his family not to have any closure. Mack...you will be missed...God Bless!
6/16/2009

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says....
I am glad that Mack found God before someone evil took his precious life. You were taken too soon Mack. In the blink of an eye life as we know it here can be over.
6/16/2009

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Really ? says....
It is evident that a majority of the people posting here have no clue what they are talking about. You are quick to bash the SPD whenever you get the chance.. get a life.
6/16/2009

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AgentSmith says....
No suprise here for the Salina PD being a day late and dollar short. The guy showed a concern for his life and they must not have the money for witness protection. But a drug dealer that gets popped can testify and get witness protection. Come on Salina PD use your training in order to protect the public not let them be in fear.
6/16/2009

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thankfully former Salinan says....
still want to say there are no gangs in Salina???
6/16/2009

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r.i.p. says....
well since tha police couldnt protect him lets see if they can solve it and give his family some peace.
6/16/2009

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honeychild says....
very sorry for his family and friends. RIP, mack.
6/16/2009

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says....
THAT WAS MY BIG CUZ WHO EVER DID THIS IS GOING TO PLAY I HOPE THERE LIFE BE A LIVING HELL
6/16/2009

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says....
Mack wanted to be a probation officier. Some of you had nerve to say drugs were involved. People in Salina and surrounding areas are so judgemental and full of assumptions, mostly are wrong.
6/16/2009

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old friend says....
man that was shocking for me to see that guy was a long time friend and co worker from dodge and he was a good kid somthing has to be done.im tierd of all these kids and there shooting. you have to live with a gun around are kids and make sure doors are locked at all times (what a place to live)
6/16/2009

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