Georgia National Guardsman arrested for pointing gun at colleague in D.C

Zion Mitchell, a 21-year-old member of the Georgia National Guard, has been arrested and charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The incident occurred on August 25, 2026, while Mitchell and a female fellow guardsman were on a break from patrol duties inside a parked van in Washington, D.C.

According to court documents and police reports, the confrontation began as a heated argument regarding Army grooming and hairstyle regulations. During the dispute, Mitchell allegedly pointed his loaded service weapon at the woman. Witnesses in the vehicle reported hearing a holster click and seeing the firearm directed toward the victim. Mitchell reportedly told detectives that the action was part of “playful banter” and claimed he had removed the magazine from the pistol.

The arrest follows a period of heightened National Guard presence in the capital, a deployment ordered by President Donald Trump to combat crime that has been extended through January 2029. Mitchell is currently being held due to the nature of the charges, with a court hearing scheduled for September 15.