Eric Mitchell

On a bright Saturday afternoon, just before summer began, the life of 18-year-old Eric Lee Mitchell Jr. was tragically cut short. Born in Columbus, Ohio, on February 4, 1996, Eric was a young Black man at the threshold of his adult life. His family and friends remember him as a cherished presence, whose sudden absence left a void in their community. His funeral was held on June 5, 2014, at the Rhema Christian Center, where loved ones gathered to mourn and remember the young man they had lost. He was laid to rest at Evergreen Burial Park.

The fatal encounter occurred around 4:53 p.m. on May 24, 2014, in the 3300 block of Quaker Road. Eric had reportedly gone to the area in front of a home at 1578 Anchor Drive East on the city's southwest side with the intention of buying a mini-bike that had been advertised for sale online. According to investigators, Eric was approached by two men, and an argument broke out between them. The dispute escalated with shocking speed when one of the men pulled out a gun and shot Eric.

First responders were dispatched to the scene, and Eric was rushed by medics to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The cause of death was a gunshot wound. The motive for the argument and the shooting remains unclear, and the identity of the two men who confronted Eric has never been publicly confirmed.

The Columbus Division of Police immediately launched a homicide investigation. Detectives processed the scene on Anchor Drive East, searching for physical evidence and speaking with potential witnesses in the residential neighborhood. However, the case quickly grew cold. No suspects were immediately identified or arrested in connection with Eric's murder. The case was eventually turned over to the department's Homicide Cold Case Unit and is also listed as an unsolved homicide with the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

In the years since Eric's death, his case has remained open, a painful and unresolved chapter for his family. Investigators believe that there are people in the community who have information that could be crucial to solving the crime. In October 2014, Columbus police and Crime Stoppers featured Eric's case as a "Crime of the Week," hoping to generate new leads from the public.

As of today, the murder of Eric Mitchell remains unsolved. There have been no arrests, and his family is still waiting for justice. The Columbus Police Department continues to seek information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the person or persons responsible for his death. A cash reward has been offered by Central Ohio Crime Stoppers for any information that leads to an arrest in the case. Authorities urge anyone with knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Eric's death to come forward, no matter how insignificant the detail may seem. They can contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, or submit an anonymous tip to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).