La Mare went into hiding while more than a dozen Mafia members were killed in Detroit during the Eastside gang/Westside gang war that lasted roughly a year. in February 1931 La Mare was betrayed by two of his own men and shot in the back as he met with them in his home. The death of La Mare in early 1931 and later various other Mafia leaders such as Joe Tocco allowed the remaining Detroit Mafia leaders to unite under one group and leadership, that of the reigning Eastside gang leaders, Angelo Meli, "Black" Bill Tocco and Joe Uno Zerilli.