Central grad, vet killed

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A 1983 graduate of Grand Forks Central High School, a 22-year Marine veteran who served in Bosnia and Iraq, has died after being shot Wednesday as he worked on a car near his home in Jackson, Tenn.

Troy Mitchell, 44, died Thursday night from a gunshot wound to the face, according to the Jackson Sun newspaper.

Jackson police investigators said they believe Mitchell, owner of a lock and safe store in Jackson, was shot apparently during a robbery. He was attacked as he worked to replace a bad ignition switch in a customer’s car, and one of Mitchell’s sons told police that his father’s cell phone and wallet were missing.

Mitchell and his wife, Kelly, have seven sons ranging in age from 5 to 27. The family moved to Jackson in 2004.

“We wrestled together at Central in 1981, ’82 and ’83,” said Steve Heyd, now principal at New Heights Elementary School in East Grand Forks.

“I think he was at 112 pounds, and he had to cut weight. He was a terrifically hard worker, the perfect example of the all-American kid.”

Mitchell joined the Marines shortly after graduating from Central. While in combat overseas, he received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, among other citations.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Heyd said.

One of Mitchell’s sons is serving in Iraq now.

Jeff Delaney, owner of another Jackson locksmith shop and a friend of Mitchell, reacted bitterly to a report that a witness had seen four young men running from the area about the time of the shooting.

“It is indescribable to see what these people have done by this one senseless act,” Delaney told the Jackson newspaper. Mitchell “spent all his life serving his country, and he comes home and some punk kids put a bullet in his head.

“We are all just heartbroken.”

Though Heyd and Mitchell had not crossed paths since high school, Heyd said he heard occasional reports about his former teammate, and he had the same bewildered reaction.

“You make it through a war, and then this.”

Reach Haga at (701) 780-1102; (800) 477-6572, ext. 102; or send e-mail to chaga@gfherald.com.

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