A US Army drill sergeant on vacation leave was discovered shot and killed in Texas, military officials said.
Sgt. Jessica Mitchell – who was assigned to the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston – was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a vehicle along Interstate 10 in San Antonio at around 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, news channel WTXF reported.
The 30-year-old was found by firefighters responding to a report of a car accident.
The Dodge Challenger in which Mitchell was discovered had bullet holes in the door and driver’s side window, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Mitchell, who did not have a pulse, was taken to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on Friday, the base said.
“We are devastated by the tragic loss of Sergeant Jessica Mitchell. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends, ”said Major General Dennis LeMaster in a statement obtained by Express-News.
“We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchell’s family and her soldiers in this extremely difficult time.”
Mitchell, a dental specialist, had been assigned to the US Army Medical Center of Excellence since August 2019 and previously worked in a joint dental clinic, according to military officials.
The Criminal Investigation Division of the Army and the San Antonio Police Department are investigating her death by shooting.
Her sister said Mitchell had posted at least one social media post about ‘ringing the New Year’ hours before her body was discovered.
‘Why would anyone want to do this? Why do people commit such heinous crimes for no reason? sister Ashley Mitchell told WTXF.
Her death comes just days after partial skeletal remains were found near Salado Creek at the base.
Officials said it was “too premature” to release more details about the Dec. 27 discovery.
It is unclear how a body would end up on the base, as it is locked and closed to the public.