Killing of woman by vice officer ruled a homicide

The autopsy report of a woman killed inside an unmarked police car by an undercover vice officer in August reveals she was shot three times.

The Franklin County coroner ruled that 23-year old Donna Castleberry’s death was a homicide.

Castleberry was shot and killed by Columbus vice officer Andrew K. Mitchell on Aug. 23. Mitchell was working undercover on prostitution complaints in the Sullivant Avenue area that day.

Columbus police have said Castleberry and Mitchell were in an unmarked police car in a parking lot on the 300 block of South Yale Avenue. Police said Mitchell tried to arrest Castleberry when she stabbed him in the hand.

The coroner’s reports said Castleberry was shot in the chest, stomach and right leg. A toxicology screening also revealed that she had fentanyl and cocaine in her system at the time of her death.

Mitchell, a 30-year Columbus police veteran, had a complaint filed against him on Aug. 8 but remained on duty. Columbus police have said Mitchell likely didn’t know about the complaint because it was being handled as a criminal investigation.

Since the Aug. 23 shooting, Mitchell has been relieved of duty because of the Aug. 8 complaint. His home has been searched by the FBI.

The investigation into the shooting continues, authorities said. When the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Franklin County prosecutor’s office and a grand jury.