A Georgia National Guard member deployed to Washington DC has been arrested after allegedly pointing a gun at a fellow service member during an argument over Army hairstyle regulations.
Zion Mitchell, 21, faces felony charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm while committing a crime of violence or dangerous offence, according to court documents and a Metropolitan Police Department report.
The incident allegedly took place on 25 August, while Mitchell and other National Guard members were taking a break from patrol duties in a van near H Street North-East. The group had been deployed to the capital as part of President Donald Trump’s crime task force.
The arrest warrant says Mitchell and a female colleague began arguing about whether their hairstyles complied with Army rules. During the exchange, the woman heard the sound of a holster being opened and later learned from other Guard members that a firearm had allegedly been drawn and pointed in her direction.
She told police she believed the weapon was loaded because firearms carried by National Guard personnel are generally loaded. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
Mitchell was arrested on 1 September and is being held in the District of Columbia jail without bond. He did not enter a plea at a preliminary hearing, and his next hearing is scheduled for 15 September.
Court documents say Mitchell told detectives that he had pulled a pistol magazine from his vest and pointed it at the woman as part of what he described as playful banter. His lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
National Guard deployment in Washington
The task force deployment has been politically contentious since August 2025, when Mr Trump declared an emergency over what he described as out-of-control crime in Washington.
More than 3,100 Guard members from 18 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia remain involved in the operation. Georgia has the second-largest contingent, with 531 personnel as of 8 September.
The mission has included helping police with arrests and juvenile curfew enforcement, responding to medical emergencies and carrying out public works projects. The deployment has been extended until January 2029.
