Police Officer Martinus Mitchum

Officer: Tulane University Police Officer Martinus Mitchum

Date: 2/26/2021          Location: New Orleans, LA               FACTORS (1,2,7,9,14,15)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: John Shallerhorn

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Shallerhorn was arrested in 2019 for indecent behavior with a juvenile./Yes, the incident began with Shallerhorn assaulting a school employee after he had just robbed a man in the parking lot at gunpoint.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown./None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/35

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At approximately 6 p.m. on February 26, 2021, while working security at a High School basketball game, Officer Mitchum observed John Shallerhorn fight with a school employee because he was upset with the school security’s entry procedures requiring him to have a mask on. In an attempt to “deescalate the situation”, Officer Mitchum told Shallerhorn he had to leave as he escorted him out of the school.

Actions taken by subject toward police: As Shallerhorn was being escorted out of the school by Officer Mitchum, he pulled out a gun and shot Mitchum in the chest killing him.

Reactions by the police: New Orleans Parish sheriff’s deputies at the school took Shallerhorn into custody immediately after the shooting when Shallerhorn put his weapon down and surrendered.

How murdered? Officer Mitchum was shot point blank by a man for no apparent reason as he was escorting him out of a building.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Officer Mitchum could have arrested Shallerhorn, putting him into handcuffs immediately after Shallerhorn struck the school employee. It is common for police to search any subject they are dealing with and given the violent nature of this incident, it would have been more than reasonable for Mitchum to search Shallerhorn before escorting him out.

Would the officer had been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? It is unknown if Officer Mitchum saw Shallerhorn make the furtive movement reaching for the hidden weapon, at which point yes he would have been justified or only saw it when it was pointed at him at which point it was too late.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Shallerhorn has been charged with armed robbery and 1st degree murder of a policeman.

Miscellaneous: This case shows what happens when officers deescalate situations by being nice to violent criminals. Shallerhorn should have been arrested and handcuffed immediately upon assaulting the school employee.