In the evening hours of a winter day in Newark, New Jersey, a dispute outside a local bodega on Clinton Avenue would soon escalate to a tragic and fatal conclusion for a young man. On February 10, 2020, 21-year-old Detrick Mitchell was standing in front of the convenience store when an argument broke out with several men and a woman. The woman, identified as Chantal Mitchell, left the scene in her vehicle following the verbal altercation, but her departure was only temporary.
Minutes
later, the street was filled with the sound of gunfire as Chantal Mitchell returned, driving through the parking lot and firing multiple shots toward the entrance of the bodega. In the chaos that ensued, Detrick Mitchell was struck by the gunfire. A second person, a female, was also hit by a bullet. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 6:53 p.m., and both victims were rushed to University Hospital for medical attention.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Detrick Mitchell succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:34 p.m. The female victim survived the shooting and was listed in stable condition. The investigation into the double shooting was handled by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department.
The investigation led to the identification and arrest of Chantal Mitchell. In a turn of events, on December 20, 2022, she pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree aggravated assault. On March 17, 2023, a Superior Court Judge sentenced Chantal Mitchell, then 31, to 28 years in New Jersey State Prison for her role in the fatal drive-by shooting. Under the terms of her sentence, she is required to serve 85 percent of her term before becoming eligible for parole and will be subject to five years of parole supervision upon her release.
