Tulane University police officer and a reserve deputy constable Martinus Mitchum was shot dead on Friday after an argument over a mask escalated during a basketball match in New Orleans.
Mitchum worked as a security during the high school basketball game when the shooter, later identified as John Shallerhorn, was trying to enter the place without a mask. After he was confronted by one of the school staff members, he started acting violently.
Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Cpl. M. Mitchum. #tulaneu #tulaneemergency
Posted by Tulane University Police Department on Saturday, 27 February 2021
Officer Mitchum tried to intervene and brought Shallerhorn outside, but it was then that the suspect pulled out a gun and shot Mitchum in the chest. He was rushed to the hospital but nothing could be done. The officer was pronounced dead.
One of Officer Mitchum’s long time friends, Jason Bertrand, spoke to Khan saying, “I feel like Mitch saved lives last night because we don’t know what that gentleman really was coming in there to do. There was kids in there, families in there. What could you be going into a high basketball with a gun?”
Before shooting Officer Mitchum, Shallerhorn robbed a man outside the school and is now facing charges of armed robbery and first-degree murder of a police officer. If found guilty, he will likely serve a life in prison and even a death penalty.
Officer Mitchum died a hero. May he rest in peace.