Ex-officer charged with fatally shooting woman in his car

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A former vice squad officer in Ohio has been charged with fatally shooting a woman who was sitting in his unmarked police vehicle in what the man says was an act of self-defense.

Columbus police say officer Andrew Mitchell shot and killed 23-year-old Donna Castleberry in 2018 after she stabbed him in the hand during an undercover prostitution investigation.

A grand jury on Thursday charged Mitchell with murder and involuntary manslaughter.

Mitchell’s attorney has defended his actions, saying it was a proper use of force.

Mitchell is also facing federal charges of forcing women to have sex with him under threat of an arrest, pressuring others to cover up crimes and lying to the FBI by saying he’d never had sex with prostitutes. He has pleaded not guilty.