A day before Thanksgiving, November 27, 2013, will forever dent Lakia Mack’s memory after receiving a dreadful phone call early in the morning. Though tired from prepping a large meal for a huge family event, her adrenaline remained high after being told her younger brother, Quantrell Keller, had been murdered the previous night.
Pasco County Sheriff’s office responded to a residence in Holiday, Florida, after receiving a 911 distress call from Keller’s roommate about the shooting. Upon arrival, the 23-year-old was found bleeding on the bedroom floor of the apartment and later succumbed to his wounds.
“I don’t remember much after that. The loss of a child is like no other loss, as parents we expect our children to outlive us, there is nothing worse than parents that have to bury a child. My heart will never heal from this loss, this is a heartache that I will take to my grave. No parent should have to bury their child, especially when it comes from a senseless act of violence, said the victim’s mother, Barbara Keller, according to Tampa Free Press.
The victim’s roommate told investigators a short stocky Hispanic man knocked on the door of their residence about 11 p.m. He opened the door, and the suspect asked for Keller. Soon, the two men were heard having a conversation that wasn’t heated and was neither provocative when the victim’s roommate and his girlfriend heard the gunshot.
During the investigation, authorities were unable to make any arrests to date, and the case went cold. Mack, who felt rage at her brother’s passing, couldn’t believe the responding officers had handcuffed her brother while he bled on the floor and pled for his life after listening to the 911 call.
“I’m not sure why they would handcuff the person who needed medical attention,” said Mack, reported Project: Cold Case.
The family remains hopeful that justice will prevail.
If anyone has information about this case, please call the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 847-5878. To maintain anonymity and possibly be eligible for a reward, contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at (800) 873-TIPS
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