Attorney General's office agrees with District Attorney's assessment that the shooting was in self defense

No charges filed in case of veteran shot and killed

The attorney general's office says no charges will be filed in the March 2013 fatal shooting of an Iraq War veteran.Investigators say Jonathan Mitchell, 23, was shot and killed near his northwest Albuquerque home by a neighbor named Donnie Pearson.Pearson told police Mitchell shot first, and he was acting in self-defense.The District Attorney's Office never pursued charges, and later submitted the case to the New Mexico Attorney General's Office.Action 7 News learned on Wednesday that the AG's office determined "criminal charges against Mr. Pearson should not be pursued."Mitchell's family told KOAT they are angry, but not surprised.Since the shooting, they've been protesting the fact no arrest was ever made.New Mexico's branch of the NAACP say the case is not closed. It has filed a complaint with the federal government, hoping the Department of Justice will review it and criminal charges will eventually be filed.

The attorney general's office says no charges will be filed in the March 2013 fatal shooting of an Iraq War veteran.

Investigators say Jonathan Mitchell, 23, was shot and killed near his northwest Albuquerque home by a neighbor named Donnie Pearson.


Pearson told police Mitchell shot first, and he was acting in self-defense.

The District Attorney's Office never pursued charges, and later submitted the case to the New Mexico Attorney General's Office.

Action 7 News learned on Wednesday that the AG's office determined "criminal charges against Mr. Pearson should not be pursued."

Mitchell's family told KOAT they are angry, but not surprised.

Since the shooting, they've been protesting the fact no arrest was ever made.

New Mexico's branch of the NAACP say the case is not closed. It has filed a complaint with the federal government, hoping the Department of Justice will review it and criminal charges will eventually be filed.