A New Orleans police officer who was guarding a high school basketball game was shot dead on Friday night by a man who was denied entry to the contest for not wearing the mask required by coronavirus rules, police said.
Police said John Shallerhorn, 35, wanted to enter the George Washington Carver High School playoff game at his home gym against Warren Easton High around 6:15 pm, but was banned from doing so because he did not wear a mask. Shallerhorn fought with a school official before Martinus Mitchum, 38, a police officer at the University of Tulane and deputy police officer in the city’s 2nd Courthouse who did night work at the school to provide security, stepped in to stop the confusion, investigators said on Saturday.
The sniper was refused entry to the basketball game, argued with the official, pulled the gun
Mitchum, 38, was escorting Shallerhorn off campus on Block 3,000 on Higgins Boulevard when Shallerhorn reportedly pulled out a gun and shot Mitchum twice. Shallerhorn put his gun down, and deputies from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office who were also at the school arrested him, officials said.
Paramedics took Mitchum to a hospital, where the team declared him dead.
The victim was the police officer at the University of Tulane, substitute police officer for the 2nd City Court reservation
Police said Shallerhorn also stole a medallion chain from a 39-year-old man who was sitting in a car in Carver’s parking lot on Friday night. Shallerhorn reportedly approached the victim while brandishing a gun, police said.
John Shallerhorn, via OPSO
Investigators arrested Shallerhorn on charges of first-degree murder of a police officer and armed robbery. He would face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted of murdering a police officer.
Shallerhorn’s bail had not been set on Saturday morning.
This is a developing story. Check again at nola.com.
The victim was a police officer from Tulane University working as a security guard
Chaotic scene leaves officer dead out of basketball game