A U.S. Army sergeant on vacation has been shot dead in Texas, military officials said.
Sgt. Jessica Mitchell – who was assigned to the San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston joint base – was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a vehicle along Interstate 10 in San Antonio at about 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, WTXF news station reported.
The 30-year-old was found by firefighters responding to a report of a vehicle collision.
The Dodge Challenger in which Mitchell was discovered has bullet holes in the door and the window on the driver’s side, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Mitchell, who had no pulse, was taken to the university hospital, where she was pronounced dead on Friday, the base said.
‘We are devastated by the tragic loss of drilling sergeant Jessica Mitchell. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends, “said Major General Dennis LeMaster in a statement obtained by Express-News.
“We focus on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchell’s family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time.”
Mitchell, a dental specialist, has been employed at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence since August 2019 and has worked at a joint base dental clinic, according to military officials.
The San Antonio Department of Criminal Investigations has launched an investigation into her shooting death.
Her sister said Mitchell posted at least one social message about “the new year” being discovered hours before her body.
‘Why would anyone want to do that? Why do people do such heinous acts for no reason? Sister Ashley Mitchell told WTXF.
Her death comes days after partial skeletal remains were found near Salado Creek at the base.
Officials said it was “too early” to release more details about the December 27 discovery.
It is unclear how a body would end up on the base, as it was locked up and closed to the public.