National Guardsman in D.C. as part of Trump crackdown on crime charged after pointing gun at colleague

September 9, 2026 / 11:56 AM EDT / CBS News

A National Guardsman assigned to patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., as part of President Trump's crackdown on crime is now facing criminal charges himself after he allegedly pulled a gun on a colleague.

Zion Mitchell, 21, of Macon, Georgia, was arrested earlier this month on charges of possessing a firearm while committing the crime of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to the criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia's Superior Court by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office.

According to the complaint, the victim was sitting with other fellow Guardsmen in a black van in front of a Popeyes in Northeast Washington, D.C., on Aug. 25, when she and Mitchell got into an argument over their hairstyles and whether they were following Army regulations.

The victim later told police she heard a "holster click" and thought that Mitchell had flicked his holster open. She later learned from another colleague that he had drawn his weapon and pointed it at her in the van.

Several witnesses in the van told police they saw Mitchell remove his gun and point it at the victim.

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/