Female Soldier Found Riddled With Bullets in Stranded Car on New Year's Day

Texas officials are investigating the death of female Army Drill Sgt. Jessica Mitchell after she was found fatally shot on a San Antonio interstate on New Year's Day.

Police officers responded to a call of a stranded vehicle in the fast lane on Interstate 10 shortly after 2 a.m., according to a USA Today report.

They found a white Dodge Challenger with multiple bullet holes to the driver's side door and window, according to San Antonio police.

Police checked her pulse as the victim appeared to have been hit several times. Mitchell was brought to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The highway was shut down and the scene inspected by crime scene technicians and homicide detectives.

Probe still on-going to determine victim's death

The investigation is ongoing, according to police. Joint Base San Antonio released a statement, saying Mitchell's death is being investigated by Army's Criminal Investigation Division.

Mitchell was a dental specialist at Army Medical Center for Excellence. She was on a holiday leave when the incident happened.

Mitchell's childhood friend, Francesca Toby, said that Mitchell had a 10-year-old son. In an interview, she said that Mitchell was a "beautiful woman" loved by everyone around her.

She had a son, and he's without his mom, and I just want to give my prayers to her family, to her son, to her son's father," Toby was quoted on a WOAI-TV report.

Mitchell's faither said that his daughter was a fifth-generation member of the military. In 2017, her 18-year-old brother named Justice was shot and killed.

Her father, Mayo Mitchell, said that his daughter wanted to be the best that she can be in her military career, however, that was cut short.

"I told all my children, I want you to do better than what I have done," Mayo Mitchell was quoted on a report.

Her mother, Deborah Mitchell, said that she had just spoken to her daughter earlier that week. Mitchell's mother said that Jessica was just telling them her dreams. The Mitchell family calls on anyone who may have seen something to call the police.

Ashley Mitchell said that they heard there were not witnesses, according to a WTVM News report. Ashley added that it is a highway and that someone must have seen something.

Mitchell's commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster, said that he was devastated by the tragic loss. LeMaster offered their condolences to Mitchell's family and friends.

He added that they are focused on supporting Mitchell's family as well as her soldiers during this time. No arrests have been made and police are still investigating if Mitchell was targeted.

Rising cases of suspicious army deaths

Meanwhile, another unrelated death was also reported.

Nineteen-year-old Pfc. Asia M. Graham was discovered dead in her military barracks on New Year's Eve, according to an ABC News report

The two consecutive deaths happened after Congress started an investigation into the number of deaths that were taking place at Fort Hood.

One includes the disappearances of three soldiers who were later found dead, such as the case of Spc. Vanessa Guillen.