A Georgia National Guard member deployed in Washington, D.C., as part of a federal crime-fighting task force has been arrested and charged with two felonies after an incident in which he allegedly drew a firearm during a dispute over military grooming regulations.
On September 1, Zion Mitchell, 21, was taken into custody and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to court documents filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The charges stem from an August 25 incident reported by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to the arrest warrant, Mitchell and a female fellow Guard member were seated in a van when they engaged in an argument about whether their hairstyles complied with Army regulations. The dispute escalated until the woman reported hearing a holster click, leading her to believe Mitchell had opened his holster. After exiting the van, she was informed by other Guard members that Mitchell had drawn and pointed a firearm at her. She told investigators she assumed the weapon was loaded, as National Guard firearms are typically issued loaded.
Mitchell remains held in the District of Columbia jail with no bond set, according to court records. A request for comment from the Joint Task Force regarding Mitchell’s status was not immediately returned.
The incident occurred amid a broader controversial deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., authorized under an emergency order issued by President Donald Trump in August 2025. The order cited concerns over rising crime and led to the activation of more than 3,100 Guard members from 18 states, alongside hundreds of federal law enforcement officers. The deployment, initially framed as a temporary measure, has since been extended through January 2029, with local police temporarily placed under federal control during the operation.