By: King Acklin
According to multiple sources, former No Limit artist, MAC, born McKinley “Mac” Phipps Jr. was granted parole earlier today (06.22) by The Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole. It’s official, according to a clip from an Instagram account in the rapper’s name. In the clip you can hear and see Mac via a Zoom video call give a brief statement before the board votes unanimously in favor of his parole. No specific date of release was mentioned, but this is just the next step in Mac’s fight for freedom.
Earlier this year, Mac was granted clemency with a scheduled parole hearing date of June 22nd (today). In 2000, Mac was an up-and-coming artist and one of the stars of Master P.’s No Limit label. He was at a Louisiana club in February 2000 to perform when a fight broke out that led to gunfire. The results were the death of 19-year-old Barron Victor Jr. Mac was latter arrested that night and then charged with murder. In 2001 Mac was convicted of manslaughter and has spent the last 21 years of his life incarcerated.
Mac has always maintained his innocence and his push for freedom gained wider attention when multiple witnesses told the Huffington Post they were forced into stating that Phipps was the shooter. The Huffington Post was also able to obtain a copy of a videotaped confession from one of the security guards at the club where the murder happened. The security guard told police he was the one who pulled the trigger.
“Today marks the end of a long fight for justice," McKinley’s wife, Angelique Phipps said. “Today we are looking towards a brighter future for our family. We are grateful to all of those who have never wavered in their support of Mac’s innocence.”