By Rich Pollack
Al Camentz was known locally as a computer guru, a magician with Macs, who could keep them humming.
Camentz was also known as a fan of New Orleans music, especially of a swamp rock band named The Radiators.
Listening to live music often meant he was out late, sometimes into the early morning hours, and customers — including publishers of The Coastal Star — knew tech support calls wouldn’t be tended to until after lunchtime.
Camentz’s love of music and his penchant for being with friends until before the sun came up may have factored into his death last month, one Delray Beach police say was the result of a fatal shooting that occurred at a beachfront condo on State Road A1A, just north of Atlantic Avenue.
“Al was a good guy who could entertain you with tales of great musicians while fixing your computers at the same time,” said The Coastal Star Publisher Jerry Lower. “He was the only computer support person The Coastal Star has used in our 15 years of publishing.”
A graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, where he received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering, Camentz was smitten by the local music scene and culture. He returned to New Orleans regularly for the Jazz & Heritage Festival and for Mardi Gras.
After speaking with friends who were with Camentz in the early morning hours of Sept. 13 and visiting a condo that was used as a timeshare where they found traces of blood, Delray Beach police detectives arrested the occupant of the unit — 45-year-old Mark David Anderson of Lake Worth — on first-degree murder charges.
Camentz, 58, was found unresponsive by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue paramedics at the home of friends west of Delray Beach, more than 6 miles from the oceanside condo.
In court records, Delray Beach detectives detail how Camentz’s friends invited him to join them at Anderson’s timeshare, since the friends had been out at a club and were going to continue drinking and go to the condo’s hot tub. Anderson, who the friends said had never met Camentz, agreed to let him join them.
One of the friends told detectives that Camentz was invited into the apartment and offered a beer. The friend, who knew Camentz from the local music scene, said that a short time later she saw Anderson come out of his room with his hands extended, holding a black object, and then heard a loud boom. Camentz fell to the floor, saying he was unable to breathe and felt something in his chest.
Camentz was leaning against a balcony and was able to get up after 15 minutes and got into the backseat of his friends’ car as they drove away. One friend offered to take him to the hospital, but Camentz said he was feeling better and just wanted to spend the night on his friends’ couch.
Fearing Camentz was suffering from cardiac arrest — after he became pale and complained of chest pains — one of the friends called 911. Sheriff’s deputies, who responded along with paramedics, told Delray Beach detectives it appeared Camentz had either been shot or stabbed.
Based on the information they received from Camentz’s friend, investigators went to the apartment at the Berkshire by the Sea condominium where the shooting took place and arrested Anderson, who asked for an attorney and declined to make a statement.
Inside the apartment, investigators found what they suspected was cocaine and numerous alcohol bottles. They also found a gun and ammunition.
News of Camentz’s death was met with shock and disbelief by fellow New Orleans music lovers, including many who posted on Facebook.
“Al. The Radiators appreciate all your Al-ness,” wrote Radiators guitarist Dave Malone. “Rest in Peace.”
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