Newark Woman Gets Prison Time For Fatal Drive-By Shooting

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark woman was sentenced to prison this week in connection with a drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a 21-year-old man in 2020.

On Friday, a New Jersey Superior Court judge sentenced Chantal Mitchell, 31, of Newark, to 28 years in prison for killing Deitrick Mitchell, 21, of Newark.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office released the following statement about the shooting:

“On Feb. 10, 2020, Mitchell opened fire on two people standing in front of a bodega at 139 Clinton Avenue in Newark, said Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards, who handled the case. She had argued with several men outside the bodega just prior to the shooting. She left in her vehicle after the argument but returned minutes later, firing multiple shots toward the bodega entrance as she drove through the parking lot. Deitrick Mitchell was fatally struck by the gunfire, and a second victim sustained a non-fatal gunshot wound.”

Late last year, Mitchell pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree aggravated assault. Mitchell admitted on December 20, 2022 to shooting two people and killing one of them, in exchange for the 28-year sentence in New Jersey state prison, prosecutors said.

Under the No Early Release Act, Mitchell must serve 85 percent of her sentence before she is eligible for parole. She must also serve five years of parole supervision after being released from state prison, prosecutors said.

The criminal conviction for the Feb. 10 shooting is Mitchell’s third. She was previously convicted twice for distributing drugs, authorities said.

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