New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said today that Tulane police officer Martinus Mitchum was fatally shot on Friday by a man who tried to force his way into a high school basketball playoff game. Ferguson says Mitchum was working as a security guard and tried to escort the gunman out of the building after he hit an employee working at the door.
“At which time Shallerhorn retrieved a weapon from his waistband and fired two shots, one of them striking Officer Mitchum in the chest,” said Ferguson.
Officer Mitchum was not wearing a bulletproof vest and died a short time later. 35-year-old John Shallerhorn was quickly arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder of a police officer. Ferguson calls Mitchum a hero for making sure Shallerhorn didn’t get inside the gym.
“I can only imagine what could have happened had he made entry into that game, where he could have many, many more victims as a result of this individual’s negligence,” said Ferguson
It’s been reported Shallerhorn became irate after being told he had to wear a mask at the Carver High School playoff game, but Ferguson can not confirm that.
“They were ensuring that everyone was compiling with the COVID guidelines, which includes wearing a mask, but we can not confirm that this has anything to do with him wearing a mask,” said Ferguson.
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