A Louisiana police officer was reportedly fatally shot at a high school on Friday during a dispute over a requirement to wear a facemask.
John Shallerhorn, 35, shot Tulane University police officer Martinus Mitchum, 38, outside George Washington Carver High School during a playoff basketball game. He was not wearing a bulletproof vest at the time, according to NOLA.com.
WVUE reported that Shallerhorn was refused entry to the school for not wearing a mask. Mitchum was said to have intervened and escorted Shallerhorn off the premises after he got into an altercation with a school employee. NOLA.com reported that Shallerhorn had struck the employee in the face.
While leaving, Shallerhorn allegedly shot at Mitchum twice, hitting him once in the chest. He reportedly then put the gun down and was taken into custody.
According to WVUE, Shallerhorn robbed a 39-year-old man at gunpoint moments before the deadly shooting. The victim was sitting in his car in the high school parking lot when Shallerhorn allegedly brandished a gun and demanded his chain.
NOLA.com reported that Shallerhorn admitted to killing Mitchum. While in custody, police reportedly found a stolen chain in Shallerhorn’s possession.
Shallerhorn was charged with first-degree murder of a police officer and armed robbery. He remains jailed without bail.
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[Featured image: Martinus Mitchum/Tulane University]
