NEW ORLEANS — A Tulane police officer was shot and killed in New Orleans on Friday night, reportedly while trying to escort the suspect away from a basketball game at George Washington Carver High School, according to reports. The deadly encounter occurred around 6:30 p.m. The suspected gunman was quickly arrested. NOLA reported.
The slain officer was identified as Martinus Mitchum, 38, according to another NOLA report.
Teams from Carver and Warren Easton high schools were meeting in a playoff game at Carver High School when the suspect tried to enter, FOX 8 of New Orleans reported. The game was halted following the shooting.
The officer was providing security for the game, WWL-TV reported. Meanwhile, the suspect had been arguing with a school employee and the law enforcement officer attempted to intervene and remove the suspect from the building, according to NOLA.
The shooting at Carver High School in New Orleans tonight killed Martinus Mitchum, 38, a 2nd City Constable and Tulane University police officer, according to multiple sources.
With @johnsimerman and @mgsledge | https://t.co/z4S5mSljsS
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) February 27, 2021
At some point, the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the officer in the chest, the report said. Multiple shots were fired, according to a photographer from WWL who was at the scene. Orleans Parish sheriff’s deputies arriving at the scene found the officer suffering from a gunshot wound and had him transported to University Medical Center, where he later died, FOX 8 reported.
The slain officer was a member of the force at Tulane University in the city and also served as a City Court constable, Shaun Ferguson, superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, told FOX 8.
Suspect Identified
The suspect has been identified as John P. Shallerhorn. He was reportedly involved in an armed robbery prior to the murder. Read more.
The shooting remains under investigation, authorities said.
