In the fading daylight of a Friday evening in New Orleans, 38-year-old Martinus Mitchum, a dedicated male officer with the Tulane University Police Department, was working a security detail at a high school basketball playoff game. The date was February 26, 2021, and the atmosphere at George Washington Carver High School was charged with the excitement of the game.
Mitchum, also a reserve deputy constable with the Second City Court of New Orleans Constable's Office, was a familiar and reassuring presence at such community events.
The evening took a tragic turn when a man, later identified as John Shallerhorn, attempted to enter the school without a face mask, leading to a confrontation with a staff member. Mitchum intervened, attempting to de-escalate the situation and escorting Shallerhorn off the property. It was during this escort that the situation escalated dramatically. Once outside, Shallerhorn produced a handgun and fired, striking Mitchum in the chest. The dedicated officer collapsed, his life tragically cut short in an act of sudden violence. He died at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath, members of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, who were also present at the game, quickly apprehended Shallerhorn. He was arrested and subsequently charged with first-degree murder of a police officer and armed robbery. The community was left to grapple with the senseless loss of a man described by his family and friends as a compassionate and humble public servant who often went out of his way to help others, even paying a woman's rent to prevent her eviction.
The legal process that followed brought a measure of justice for Mitchum's family and the community he served. In April 2024, John Shallerhorn was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Officer Martinus Mitchum. Following the verdict, Mitchum's family expressed that justice had been served and announced the creation of a foundation in his honor to continue his legacy of service. In a testament to his character, Mitchum's family had requested that the district attorney not seek the death penalty, believing that he would have found it in his heart to forgive his killer.
