Police Officer Killed at New Orleans High School Basketball Game

A police officer was shot and killed following a confrontation at a high school basketball game on Friday, Feb. 26, in New Orleans, La.

Cpl. Martinus Mitchum, 38, was working security for the George Washington Carver High School basketball team’s playoff game. According to the Washington Post, 35-year-old John Shallerhorn attempted to make his way past a staffer checking temperatures and making sure attendees were wearing masks. When the staffer tried to block him for not wearing a mask, Shallerhorn punched the staffer, according to reports.

Mitchum saw the altercation and rushed to assist. Police say that Shallerhorn withdrew a gun and shot Mitchum in the chest. The officer died later that night at University Medical Center New Orleans.

Shallerhorn was arrested and charged with “multiple felonies,” according to the Washington Post, including murder of a police officer. Police say he has confessed to the murder and is being held without bail. According to a criminal complaint reviewed by nola.com, Shallerhorn also mugged an unidentified man in the parking lot before attempting to enter the game.

Mitchum served as a Tulane University police officer and as a reserve officer for the Second City Court of New Orleans, according to New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson. “Corporal Mitchum was a dedicated police professional who had a heart of service for the Tulane community,” said a joint statement released by Tulane University and the police department. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and with all the fellow officers with whom he served.”

Mitchum worked with several high schools in the area and made an impact wherever he stayed. At L.B. Landry High School, he became “something of a manager and mentor for the basketball team, booking hotels and food and traveling with the squad as it won a state championship.” Landry’s former athletic director Tarance Davis credits the school’s championships to Mitchum’s guidance and support.

Likewise, school officials at George Washington Carver High School called him a “fixture” at the team’s games.

“He always had a good spirit,” said Solomon Washington, a Carver basketball player. “He was fun to be around. It’s tragic that it happened to him.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • Securing Higher Education: Combating Enrollment Fraud and Empowering Student Financial Success

    Higher education institutions are facing a costly and growing crisis: enrollment fraud. Between 2020 and 2022, the cost[1] of acquiring a new student surged by up to 32%, straining already tight budgets. At the same time, “ghost students” using stolen identities to enroll fraudulently put institutions at even greater financial risk. Read Now

  • How Composable Security Technologies Fortify Campus Safety

    Campus security teams have faced myriad risks threatening the safety and well-being of students and faculty this semester. Leaders have made tough tradeoffs about where to focus and how to channel limited resources to best protect their communities — but they now have a much-needed lift to their toolkit. Read Now

  • How Emerging Technologies are Transforming the School Security Landscape

    Students can't focus on learning when they're worried about their safety. As education systems nationwide face evolving security challenges with limited resources, a new generation of integrated technology solutions is helping schools create safer environments while maximizing staff efficiency. Read Now

  • How to Harness ALPR for Greater Security Efficiency and Collaboration

    Within higher education campus environments, the demand for greater security, efficiency, and resources is ever-present. Many higher education teams are adopting advanced technologies to secure their campus, streamline operations, and continue to best serve their students and faculty. Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology stands out for its ability to meet a wide range of campus objectives. Read Now